Mitigation Measures
NOI-1 During case-by-case review of individual pr ojects, the City shall consider the application of the following strategies to reduce construction noise levels to the max imum exten t feasible:
• Mufflers. Co nstruction eq uipment shall be properly maintained and all internal combustion engine driven machiner y with intake and exhaust mufflers and engine shrouds, as applicable, shall be in good condition and appropria te for the equipment.
During construction, all equipment, f ixed or mobile, shall b e operated with closed
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engine doors and shall be equipped with p roperly operating and maintained mufflers, consistent with manufacturers’ standards.
• Electrical Power. Electrical power, rather than diesel equipment, shall be used to r un compressors and similar power tools and to power any temporary structures, such as construction trailers or caretaker facilities.
• Equipment S taging. All stationary equipment shall be staged as f ar aw ay from the adjacent sensitive receptors as feasible.
• Equipment Idling. Const ruction vehicles and equipment shall not be left idling for longer than five minutes when not in use.
• Workers’ Radios. All noise fr om workers’ radios shall be controlled to a point that they are not audible at sensitive receptors near construction activity. • Smart Back -up Alarms. Mobile construction equipment shall have smart back -up alarms that automatically adjust the sound level of the alarm in response to ambient noise leve ls. A lternatively, b ack-up alarms shall be disabled and rep laced with human spotters to ensure safety when mobile construction equipment is moving in the reverse direction.
• Disturbance Coordina tor. Project applicants shall designate a disturbance coordinator wh o shall be resp onsible for responding to any local complain ts about construction noise. The noise disturbance coordinator shall determine the cause of the noise complaint (e.g., starting too ea rly, bad muffler, et c.) and shall require that reasonable measures warranted to correct the problem be im plemented. A telephone number for the di sturbance coordinator shall be conspicuously posted at the construction site.
NOI-2: During case-by-case review of individual projects, the City shall consider the applic ation of the following strateg y to reduce construction noise levels to the maximum extent feasible:
• Temporary Sound Barriers. For con struction activities located directly adjacent to sensitive receivers (e.g., r esidences, mobile homes, op en space areas, s chools), temporary sound barriers shall be installed and maintained by the constru ction contractor between the construction site and a djacent receivers du ring the
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demolition, site preparation, grading phases, and building phases of constru ction.
Temporary sound b arriers shall consist of either sound blankets or other sound barriers/techniques such as acoustic padding or acoustic walls pla ced near adjacent residential buildings that have been field -tested to reduce noise by least 15 dBA.
Barriers shall be pla ced such tha t the line -of-sight between noise -generating construction equipment a nd adjacent sensitive land uses is blocked and shall be placed as close to the source equipment, as feasible. As an alternative, applicants may prepare a Noise Study that dem onstrates co nstruction noise would not exceed ambient noise levels at nearby sensitive resources. The Noise Study shall incorporate best management practices and other noise reduction measures to reduce n oise levels.
Operational Noise
Traffic Noise
The Specific Plan would increase the number of vehicle trips within the Plan Area which would increase traffic noise on roadways in the vicinity. To determine wh ether the Specific P lan would create traffic noise resulting in a significant noise increase, existin g and p otential futur e noise levels were modeled using the FHWA Traffic Noise Model based on the Specific Plan traffic analysis (see Appendix 3.12).
Roadway noise impacts were assessed on primary roadw ay segments within the Plan Ar ea. The noise increases between the Existing, Future Without Plan, and Future With Plan scenarios are shown in Table
3.9-8, Specific Plan Traffic Noise.
Table 3.9-8
Specific Plan Traffic Noise
Roadway Roadway Segment
dBA CNEL
Existing
[1]
Future
Without
Plan
[2]
Future
With Plan
[3]
Plan Net
Increase
[3] - [2]
Cumulativ
e Net
Increase
[3] - [1]
Rosecrans
Ave.
West of Willowbrook Ave. 70.2 70.5 70.6 0.1 0.4
Between Willowbrook Ave. &
70.8 71.1 71.4 0.3 0.6
Between Alameda St. & Santa Fe Ave. 70.1 70.4 70.5 0.1 0.4 Elm St. Between Alameda St. & Santa Fe Ave. 59.4 59.6 61.9 2.3 2.5 Palmer St. Between Alameda St. & Santa Fe Ave. 58.9 59.2 58.1 -1.1 -0.8 Compton
Blvd.
Between Mathisen Ave. & Acacia Ave. 67.8 68.1 68.0 -0.1 0.2 Between Acacia Ave. & Willowbrook
67.8 68.1 67.5 -0.6 -0.3
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Roadway Roadway Segment
dBA CNEL
Existing
[1]
Future
Without
Plan
[2]
Future
With Plan
[3]
Plan Net
Increase
[3] - [2]
Cumulativ
e Net
Increase
[3] - [1]
Between Willowbrook Ave. &
67.2 67.5 66.1 -1.4 -1.1
Between Alameda St. & Santa Fe Ave. 67.5 67.8 67.1 -0.7 -0.4 Myrrh St. Between Willowbrook Ave. &
61.1 61.4 60.8 -0.6 -0.3
Acacia Ave. Between Compton Blvd. & Myrrh St. 59.4 59.7 60.1 0.4 0.7 Willowbrook
Ave. (west)
Between Rosecrans Ave. & Compton
61.9 62.2 63.5 1.3 1.6
Between Compton Blvd. & Myrrh St. 61.3 61.5 64.2 2.7 2.9 Willowbrook
Ave. (east)
South of Rosecrans Ave.
57.8 58.1 63.4 5.3 5.6
Between Compton Blvd. & Myrrh St. 57.3 57.6 60.5 2.9 3.2 Alameda St.
(west)
Between Rosecrans Ave. & Compton
66.0 66.3 66.4 0.1 0.4
Between Compton Blvd. & Myrrh St. 65.5 65.8 65.8 0.0 0.3 Alameda St.
(east)
Between Rosecrans Ave. & Compton
60.7 61.0 n/a1 n/a n/a
Between Compton Blvd. & Myrrh St. 60.9 61.2 60.8 -0.4 -0.1 Santa Fe Ave. Between Rosecrans Ave. & Compton
68.8 69.1 69.4 0.3 0.6
1 The Specific Plan’s preferred alternative for Alameda St. (east) would close the roadway and convert into a greenway, with a paved path for pedestrians and cyclists.
Source: Impact Sciences, March 2022. See Appendix 3.9.
Traffic data: Traffic information provided by Iteris. See Appendix 3.12 for traffic analysis.
As shown in Tab le 3.9-8, the Specific Plan would increase local traffic noise levels by a maximum of 5.3 dBA CNEL along Willowbrook Avenue (east) , south of Rosecrans Aven ue (i. e., Plan -level increase ; see ‘Cumulative Impacts’ for a discussion on cumulative noise level i ncreases). As discussed previously, operational noise level increases would be significant if ambient noise levels increase by 3 dBA CNEL to or within the “normally incompatible ” or “clearly incomp atible” categories, as shown previously in Table 3.9-5, or any 5 dBA CNEL or more increase. Thus, the 5.3 dBA CNEL increase along Willowbrook Avenue (east), south of Rosecrans Avenue, would exceed the 5 dBA CNEL t hreshold and this impact is considered p otentially significant. All other P lan-level noise increa ses along th e stu died roadway segments would not exceed 2.9 dBA CNEL, and these impacts would be less than significant.
With respect to the 5.3 dBA CNEL increase along Willowbrook Avenue (east) , south of Rosecrans Avenue, it should be noted this programmatic analysis estimates future potential traffic noise under the 2040 horizon year buildout for the Specific Plan Area as whole, and noise level increases along certain roadway segments is anticipated . No specific development projects are proposed at this ti me and t he actual level of future development in the Plan Area and associated roadway noise levels may be lower than shown herein. It should also be noted that each individual project considered under Specific Plan buildout would be substantially smaller i n size co mpared to the assumptions under full Specific Plan
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buildout, and individual projects would likely not exceed roadway noise thresholds. For example, many of the potential future developme nt projects described in the Project Description would be s mall residential or mixed-use projects with less than 80 units, and these projects would not have the potential to exceed roadway noise thresholds. Nevertheless, as there are no feasible mitigation measures (see below) to reduce future tr affic noise level increases along Willowbrook Avenue (east), this impact would be considered significant and unavoidable.
On-Site Noise
Operation of the Specific Plan would generate on-site noise from HVAC equipment, delivery trucks, trash hauling trucks, and typical noise a ssociated with m ixed-use urban envi ronments. Noise from HVAC equipment serving new development in the Plan Area would typ ically generate noise in the range of 60 to 70 dB(A) Leq at a reference distance of 15 feet from the source .14 Noise-sensitive r eceivers wou ld typically be located at least 50 feet from the nearest HVAC equipment, and noise from HVAC equipment would attenuate at a rate of approxim ately 6 dBA per doubling of distance from the so urce (i.e., 50 to 60 dB(A) Leq at 50 feet ). As sho wn in Table 3.9-2, a mbient n oise levels in the Plan Area were measured between 56.1 and 74.9 dB(A) Leq . Based on estimated noise levels betw een 50 to 60 dB(A) Leq at 50 feet for HVAC equipment, noise levels from such equipment in the Plan Area wou ld not e xceed ambient noise levels by more than 5 dBA, as regulated per Section 7 -12.11 of the CMC. Furthermore, HVAC units are traditionally rooftop-mounted and shielded from surrounding land uses, and roofs that b lock line-of- sight to sensitive receivers would further atten uate a ny noise impacts. Therefore, operational noise impacts associated with HVAC equipment would be less than significant.
Other operational noise sources associated with on- site vehicle circulation, including delivery trucks and trash-hauling trucks. The average noise level for a single idling truck is generally 70 dB (A) at a distance of 25 feet.15 However, noise associated with commercial and trash- hauling trucks would be an intermittent and are also already a common occurrence in the Plan Area and surrounding environment due to existing residential, industrial and commercial uses that ma ke up the developed urban area. Furthermore, Section 7-12.25 of the CMC prohibits the d elivery to any commerci al zone in the City between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A .M. that would produce or generate noise which can be heard at more than 50 feet from the source. Operational noise impac ts associated with delivery and trash -hauling truc ks would be less than significant.
14 Illingworth & Rodkin. Environmental Noise Assessment for Wal-Mart Expansion, Williamson Ranch Plaza – Antioch, California. Available at: https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/community- development/planning/Walmart/DEIR-VOLII-APPENDICES-C-H/Appendix%20G%20Noise%20Assessment.pdf 15 City of San Jose. 2014. Loading Dock Noise Study, prepared by Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc. Available at:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showdocument?id=20339
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Noise associated with future residen tial a nd open space development under the Specific Plan would generally consist of conversations, music, and light recreation. The Civic Center and Commercial Core are targeted for development which would pot entially accommodate large gatherings and entertainment uses. However, any uses would be required to comply with Section 7 -12.6 of the CMC which prohibits the use or operation of any radio r eceiving set, musical instruction, phonogra ph, television set or s imilar devices between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. in a manner that exceeds the ambient noise level at the property line of any property (or, if a condominium or apartment, within any adjoining apar tment) by more than 5 dB(A). In addition, S ection 7 -12.28 of the CMC prohibits noise eman ating from or attributable to a party or gathering that is audible from a distance of at least 50 feet or more from the property line of a p roperty where the party or gathering is taking place . These CMC regula tions would apply to all noise from music or large g atherings, inc luding concerts, that could occur in Specific Plan development areas such as the Civic Center and Commercial Core. Operational noise impacts associated with residential, open space, and cultural uses in the Plan Area would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
There are no feasible mitigation measures to directly reduce future traffic noise levels along Willowbrook Avenue (east) , south of Ro secrans Avenue. As these noise levels would o ccur along a public right -of- way, mitigation such as sound barrie rs or other attenuation techniques are not feasible given the physical setting constraints. It should be noted that because these noise level incr eases are due to the maximum traffic increases associated with full programmatic buildout of the Speci fic Plan, forecasted traffic noise levels may be conservatively overstated herein. Additionally, the Specific Plan’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program includes several motor vehicle trip reduction strategies that would serve to reduce traffic noise level increases to the maximum extent feasible. See Section 3.12, Transportation, for a complete discussion of the Specific Plan’s TDM.
Land Use Compatibility
While agencies subject to CEQA are not required t o analyze or mitigate the impact of existing environmental conditions on a project‘s future users or residents , the followin g discussion associated with the placement of future residences within the Plan Area is included for informational purposes.
Table 3.9-8 indicates existing and future noise level s in t he Plan Area could reach 70.8 and 71.1 dBA CNEL, respectively. As such, future residences with the Plan Area c ould experience exterior noise levels that are considered incompatible unless design measures are identified to redu ce interior noise levels to acceptable leve ls. With respect to acceptable interior noise levels, co nsistent with State and City standards, all habitable spaces associated with the Specific Plan would be required to provide indoor noise levels of 45 dBA CNE L or less. Exterior-to-interior noise reduction of newer residen tial buildings
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can reach more than 30 dBA depending on the type of building materials and methods used. This is based in part on mandatory compliance with CCR Title 24 Part 6: California’s Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings, which requires substantial building insulation, improving exterior-to-interior noise reduc tions. As exterior noise levels in the Plan Area could reach up to 71.1 dBA CNEL, exterior-to-interior noise reductions from current construction standards could reduce interior noise levels to approximately 41.1 dBA CNEL, ensuring the Specific Pl an is consistent with interior noise level standards. Addition ally, during case -by-case review of individual development applications, the City may request project appl icants to provide additional project-specific information to demonstrate proposed residences would meet the required interior 45 dBA CNEL standard.
Impact NOI-2 Generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels.
Significant and Unavoidable Impact.
Construction activities in the Plan Area would intermittently generate vibration in and near the Plan Area when it reaches building walls and flo ors of sensitive receptors. Vibration-generating equ ipment could include bulldozers and loaded trucks to move materials and debris, jackhammers to break apart concrete, and caisson drills to insta ll shoring. Table 3.9-9, Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment, identifies vibration velocity levels at various distances from the source.
Table 3.9-9
Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment
Equipment
Approximate PPV (in/sec) Approximate RMS (VdB)
25 Feet 50 Feet 60 Feet 75 Feet 100 Feet 25 Feet 50 Feet 60 Feet 75 Feet 100 Feet Large Bulldozer 0.089 0.031 0.024 0.017 0.011 87 78 76 73 69 Caisson Drilling 0.089 0.031 0.024 0.017 0.011 87 78 76 73 69 Loaded Trucks 0.076 0.027 0.020 0.015 0.010 86 77 75 72 68 Jackhammer 0.035 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.004 79 70 68 65 61 Small Bulldozer 0.003 0.001 0.0008 0.0006 0.0004 58 49 47 44 40
Source: Federal Transit Administration, Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Manual, 2018.
With respect to human annoyance, the FTA thresholds are 80 VdB at resi dences and buildings w here people normally sleep and 83 VdB at institutional buildings such as schools or ch urches. With respect to building damage, the F TA g uidelines co nsider 0.1 2 inch/sec PPV to be the significant impact level for buildings extremely susceptible to vibratio n damage, 0.2 inch/sec PPV to be the significant impact level for non-engineered timber and masonry buildings , 0.3 inch/sec PPV to be the significant impact le vel for
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engineered concrete and masonry , and 0.5 inch/sec PPV to be the significant impact level for reinforced- concrete, steel or timber.
Based on Table 3.9-9, construction equipment could reach levels of 87 VdB at 25 feet away. As such, the 80 VdB residential annoyance threshold and 83 VdB institutional annoyance threshold could be exceeded during a worst-case construction activity. However, it should be noted that vibration levels experienced would be tempo rary and intermittent . Furthermore, Section 7.12-22 of the C MC would restrict construction activities to t he hours between 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P .M. on weekdays an d Saturday. While vibration from const ruction vibration could be perceptible at sensitive recei vers near construction si tes during daytime ho urs, vibration would not disturb residences during sensitive nighttime hours of sleep.
Additionally, as individual project a pplications are processed, project-specific design features and mitigation measures wo uld be considered on a ca se-by-case basis to r educe construction vibration levels to the maximum extent fe asible ( see Mitigation Measure NOI -1). Nevertheless, as temporary construction vibration would exceed human annoyance thresholds , this is impact is considered significant and unavoidable.
Based on Table 3.9-9, construction equipment would reach a maximu m of 0.089 PPV (in/sec) at 25 fee t.
These vibration levels would not exceed the most conservative 0. 12 inch/sec PPV threshold for buildings extremely susceptible to vibration damage . A s such, fo r individual d evelopment projec ts under the Specific Plan located more than 25 feet from nearby b uildings, construction vi bration impacts with respect to building damage would be less than significant . However, as the exact location of future development projects, distances to nearby buildings, and the architectur al integrities of nearby buildings are all unknown at this time, it is possible for individual development projects to generate construction vibration levels t hat could result in damage to adjacent buildings (i.e., within 25 feet) . Therefore, for projects with adjacent buildings located with in 25 feet, implementation of Mitigation Measure NOI-2 will ensure construction vibration impacts with respect to building damage would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
NOI-2 Prior to any grading or construction activity within 25 feet of an extremely fragile building ( non-engineered timber a nd masonry) or potentially historical resource , applicants shall prepare a Vibratio n Control Plan. The Vibrat ion Control Plan sha ll be prepared by a qualified structural engineer and shall include methods to minimize vibration, including but not limited to:
• Use of drilled piles or the use of a sonic vibratory pile driver rather than i mpact pile driving
• Use of rubber-tired equipment rather than metal-tracked equipment
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• Avoiding the use of vibrating equipment when allowed by best engineering practices The V ibration Control Plan shall include a pre -construction survey letter establishin g baseline conditions at potentially affected adj acent buildings. The survey letter shall provide a shoring d esign to protect the adjacent buildi ngs f rom potential damage. The structural engineer may recommend alternative procedures that produce lower vibrati on levels, such as sonic pile driving or caisson drilling instead of impact pile driving.
Development projects shall implement the structural engineer’s recommendations.
A Statement of Compliance signed by the Applicant and Owner is required to be submitted to Building and Safety at plan check and prior to the issuance of any permit.
The Vibration Control Pla n, prepared as outlined above, shall b e docu mented by a qualified structural engineer, and shall be provided to the City upon request.
Impact NOI-3 For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, w here such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels.
Less Than Significant Impact.
The Plan Area is not in the vicinity of a private airstrip or airport land us e plan. The nearest boundary of the Plan Area is approximately 0.5 mile northeast of the Compton/Woodley Airport . Compton/Woodley Airport does not include fac ilities for commercial aviation, rather th is airport is used for general aviation (i.e., private transport and recreational flying). The Compton/Woodley Airport does not have an adopted airport land use plan; h owever, the airport is part of the Los Angeles County AL UP. T he Plan Area would not be located within the airports ’ noise contours. 16 As such, th e Specific Plan would not exp ose people residing or working in the Plan Area to excessive airport -related noise levels and this impact would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
16 City of Compton. 2011. General Plan 2030 – Noise Element. Available at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24243
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3.9.6 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
Construction
Construction activi ties associate d with reasonably anticipated development projects from the Specif ic Plan may overl ap for some time with cons truction activities for other development projects that are adjacent to, or within , the Plan Area . T ypically, if a d evelopment site is 500 feet or more away from another site, then noise levels would have attenuated to a point tha t they would not combine t o produce a cumulative noise impact. Therefore, construction noise levels would typically become cum ulative if two development sites were to have construction occurring within 500 feet of each other.
The Specific Plan , as well a s other planned and pending projects, would be required to comply with the daytime construction hours permitted by Section 7.12-22 of the CMC. T herefore, construction noise a nd vibration would not disturb receptors during sensitive nighttime hours of slee p. However, larger, or more unusual projects could result in significant short -term increases in noise levels. These projects could combine together, or combine with smaller p rojects, to substantially increase noise levels at specific land uses. Therefore, t he significant and unavoid able construction noise impacts identified for the Specific Plan could add to co nstruction noise impacts associated w ith cumulative development, especially on the periphery of the Plan Area where receptors could be exposed to nois e sources from within and outside the Plan Area. The impact of the Specific Plan is considered significant and unavoidable and therefore the incremental effect of the Specific Plan related to construction noise would be cumulatively considerable.
For a combined vibration impact fro m simultaneous const ruction projects to reach cumulatively significant levels, intense construction from these proje cts would have to occur simulta neously in close proximity to a sensitive receptor. Specific Plan construction-related vibration would not re sult in additive vibration in combination with cumulative development in most ar eas of the City. However, individual development projects near the periphery of the Plan Area could potentially be constructed concurrently with other development adjacent to, but outside the Plan Area, such that intense construction from two or more projects would simultaneously occur in clo se p roximity to existing sensitive receptors. Therefore, the significant and unavoidable constru ction vibration i mpacts from the Specific Plan could add to vibration impacts associated with cumulative development on the periphery of the Plan Area. The impact of the Specific Plan is considered significant and unavoidable and therefore the incr emental effect of the Specific Plan on temporary vibration levels would be cumulatively considerable.
Operation
Stationary noise im pacts are localized to a project sit e and sensitive r eceptors withi n the immediate vicinity. Therefore, for stationary noise sources, the cumulative s etting is development in t he Plan Area
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and are as immediately adjacent to the Plan Area . Future deve lopment in the City would include mechanical equipment, load ing, trash pic k-up, and other noise -generating activities. However, such activities would be typical of the urban environme nt within the City a nd any on -site activities would be required to comply with applicable provisions of the CMC. Sources of stationary noise are generally well- regulated. The potential for any individual site to include a source of stationary noise that w ould be significant is unlikely and would be speculative to address. Similarly, the potential for overlapping of such sources is unlikely and would also be speculative to address. Therefore, the incremental effect of the Specific Plan with respect to stationary noise sources would not be cumulatively considerable.
As shown in Table 3.9-8, cumulative traffic noise levels would increase by a maximum of 5. 6 dBA CNEL along Willowbrook Avenue (east) , south of Rosecrans Avenue and 3.2 dBA CNEL along Willowbrook Avenue (east) , between Compton Boulevard and Myrrh Street. As di scussed previously, opera tional noise level increases would be significant if ambient noise levels increase by 3 dBA CNEL to or within the “normally incompatible” or “clearly incompatible” categories, as shown previously in Table 3.9-5, or any 5 dBA CNEL or more increase . Thus, the 5.6 dBA CNEL increase along Willowbrook Avenue (east) , south of Rosecrans Avenue, would exceed the 5 dBA CNEL threshold and this impact is considered potentially significant. While there would be a 3.2 dBA CNEL increase along Willowbrook Avenue (east), between Compton Boulevar d and Myrrh Street , the total noise level along this segment would be 60.5 dBA CNEL whi ch is not co nsidered “normally incompatible” or “cle arly incompatible” for any sensitive land use. Thus, this cumulati ve noise level increase would be considered l ess than significant. All other cumulative noise increases along the studied roadway segments would not exceed 2.5 dBA CNEL, and these impacts would be less than significant. Nevertheless, as there are no feasib le mitigation measures to reduce future traffic no ise l evel increases along Willo wbrook Avenue (east) , the cumulative impact is significant and the incremental effect of the Specific Plan on exterior noise levels would b e cumulatively considerable.
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3.9.7 REFERENCES
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA). 2021. California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) User’s Guide Appendix D – Default Data Tables. Available at:
http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/caleemod/user-guide-2021/appendix-d2020-4-0-full- merge.pdf?sfvrsn=12
California Department of Transportation, Technical Supplement to the Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol.
September, 2013.
California Department of Transportation, Technical Supplement to the Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol.
October, 1998.
City of Compton. 2011. General Plan 2030 – Noise Element. Available at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24243 City of San Jose. 2014. Loading Dock Noise Study, prepared by Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc.
Available at: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showdocument?id=20339 Federal Transit Administration, Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Manual. September 2018.
Illingworth & Rodkin. Environmental Noise Assessment for Wal-Mart Expansion, Williamson Ranch Plaza – Antioch, California. Available at: https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/community- development/planning/Walmart/DEIR-VOLII-APPENDICES-C-
H/Appendix%20G%20Noise%20Assessment.pdf
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3.10 POPULATION AND HOUSING
INTRODUCTION
This section identifies the regulatory framework with respect to regulations that addresses population and housing and evaluates the significance of the potential changes that could result from implementation of the Specific Plan. In addition, to reduce impacts, mitiga tion measures are included when applicable. Sources of information used in this section include the City of Compton General Plan and the Housing Element contained therein. Information was also obtained from SCA G Local Profiles, City of Compton, the State o f California Department of Finance (DOF) population and housing estimates, and US Census Bureau population and housing data.
3.10.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
3.10.1.1 Demographic Forecasts
Population, housing, and employment numbers for cities and counties are provided by three standard sources: the US Census Bureau, the California DOF, and SCAG. Since these three organizations use different methods of data collection and calculation, they do not always arrive at the exact same results.
For purposes of this section, the term “households” refers to occupied dwelling units, as defined in the US Census. Therefore, household counts do not include all inhabitable dwelling units existing within the City.
The US Census Bureau decennial census occurs ev ery 10 years in the years ending in zero to count the population and housing units in the entire United States. While its primary purpose is to provide the population counts that determine how seats in the US House of Representatives are apportioned, the census data forms the basis for which most demographic projections are calculated. The most recent census for which data is available was co llected in 2020 . The 2020 national census data, which was compiled using answers to surveys sent to all households within the United States, are provided for the nation, all states, and all counties, as well as each individual city. Additionally, the US Census conducts the American Community Survey annually, to provide updated data estimates between its decennial censuse s.
The State of C alifornia DOF publishes population and housing estimates, updated yearly, for the state’s counties and cities. The DOF estimates population growth based on census data and growth calculations.
SCAG has adopted population, dwelling unit, household, and employment forecasts for the Los Angeles region. The Los Angeles region includes all the cities and unincorporated areas in Ventura County. These growth forecasts, which are based on US Census data, were developed by SCAG staff with input from the planning staffs of the County and each pertinent city and are used for regional planning efforts such as the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Growth forecasts are provided for the tota l region, each growth and
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non-growth area within the C ounty, and each city within the region. Growth areas within Los Angeles County are defined as geographic subareas where urban development has already taken place or is expected to take place, while nongrowth areas are defined as where urban development is not expected to occur.
In 2008, SCAG initiated the Local Profiles project as a part of a larger initiative to provide a variety of new services to its member cities and counties. Through extensive input from member jurisdict ions, the inaugural Local Profiles Reports were released at the SCAG General Assembly in May 2009. The Local Profiles have since been updated every two years.
The Local Profiles reports provide a variety of demographic, economic, education, housing, and transportation information about each member jurisdiction including, but not limited to, the following:
• Population growth since 2000
• Population growth relative to Los Angeles County
• Homeownership rates
• Employment information
3.10.1.2 Population
According to the US Census, the County of Los Angeles’ population increased from 9,818,605 persons in 2010 to 10,014,009 persons in 2020.1 This represents a 1.99 percent increase in County population from 2010 to 2020. Conversely, according to the US Census, the City of Compton’s population decreased from 96,455 persons in 2010 to 95,740 persons in 2020.2 This represents a 0.74 percent decrease in City population from 2010 to 2020. Table 3.10-1 shows Compton’s and the County’s population in 2000, 2010, and 2020.
1 US Census Bureau. Los Angeles County Population Data. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Los%20Angeles%20County,%20California&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1, accessed February 2, 2022.
2 US Census Bureau. City of Compton Population Data. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=compton%20california&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1, accessed November 30, 2021
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Table 3.10-1
Population Growth Trends
Jurisdiction 2000 2010 2020 Percent Change 2000-
2020
Compton 93,373 96,455 95,740 2.5%
Los Angeles County 9,519,315 9,818,605 10,014,009 5.2%
Source: US Census Bureau. City of Compton Population Data. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=compton%20california&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 US Census Bureau. Los Angeles County Population Data. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Los%20Angeles%20County,%20California&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1, accessed February 2, 2022.
The Plan area is comprised of the approximately ½ mile surrounding the Metro Compton Station. The area contains a mix of civic, commercial, and residential uses. The estimated 2021 population within the City is approximately 100,534, and 12,323 persons within the Plan area.3
3.10.1.3 Housing
The City of Compton 2014-2021 Housing Element provides an inventory of the existing housing stock in the City, based on this inventory more than 95 percent of the units in the City were built prior to 2000. 4 More than 50 percent of the City's housing stock was built between 1940 and 1959. According to a survey in 2011, the City estimates that 45 percent of the City’s housing stock requires substantial rehabilitation. 5 Since 2011, 454 units have added to the City’s housing stock, and 158 of those units were for low- income seniors.6
There are a total of 23,309 housing units in the City of Compton. The housing stock consists of approximately 79 percent single-family units (69 percent detached and 10 percent attached), 20 percent are multi-family units, and three percent is mobile homes.7
3 The growth forecasts used in this analysis are based on the Compton Station Specific Plan Existing Conditions Report. The 2020 numbers presented in the report have been projected linearly to determine existing 2021 conditions.
4 City of Compton, Housing Element of the General Plan. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/documents/Compton%20Housing%20Element_09-3-19.pdf, accessed November 30, 2021.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 California Department of Finance. E-5 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2011-2019 with 2010 Census Benchmark. Accessible online at: http://dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Estimates/E-5/, accessed November 30, 2021.
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As discussed above, the Plan area includes a mix of uses around the Compton Metro station. Within the Plan Area there are estimated to be approximately 3,566 households, representing slightly more than 10 percent of the total households in the City.
Table 3.10-2
Housing for the City of Compton and County of Los Angeles (2021)
City of Compton1 Compton Station TOD Plan Area
Housing Units 23,309 3,5662
Persons per Household 4.22 4.391
Source:
1 Compton Station Specific Plan Existing Conditions Report, 2020.* 2 Compton Station TOD Specific Plan
* Existing 2021 conditions for the Plan area are estimated based on 2020 conditions.
The City’s population makes up about 0.97 percent of the countywide population and the City’s housing units make up approximately 0.68 percent of the County’s total housing units. The average number of persons per household in Compton in 2021 is 4.22. In the Plan area, the persons per households is 4.39. This is approximately 50 percent higher than the countywide average of 2.92 persons per household.8
3.10.1.4 Growth Forecast
The State of California requires that cities plan for changes in populatio n, housing, and employment. If growth is projected, each city must accommodate a share of anticipated regional growth. SCAG is responsible for producing socio -economic estimates and projections at multiple geographic levels. The socio-economic estimates an d projections are used for federal and state mandated long -range planning efforts, such as the RTP/SCS. In preparing the RTP/SCS, SCAG prepares population, housing, and employment projections in consultation with jurisdictions in the region. These projections are derived from a combination of sources and consider factors such as birth rates; migration rates; historical trends; household size; market and economic projections; existing and planned land uses; and consistency with relevant adopted local, regional, and state land use policies and growth strategies. These growth forecasts provide a good basis from which reasonable determinations can be made about planned growth for both the local (i.e., city and county level) and the regional level.
8 Ibid.
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Table 3.10-3, 2021-2040 City of Compton and Compton Station TOD Plan Area Population, Housing, and Jobs Forecast without Specific Plan Implementation, summarizes the City of Compton’s population, household, and employment current growth forecast for the City of Compton based on existing conditions without implementation of the Specific Plan. As shown in Table 3.10-3, the City of Compton’s population is expected to increase from 100,534 in 2021 to 10 2,566 in 2040 , an increase of 2,032 residents, or approximately 2.0 percent, over the planning period. The number of households in the City of Compton is expected to increase from 23,359 households in 2021 to 24,341 in 2040, an increase of 982, or approximately
4.2 percent, over the planning period without implementation of the Specific Plan. The Compton Station TOD Plan Area population is projected to increase 2.5 percent to 12,628 persons in 2040, and the number of households in the Plan Area is expected to increase 4.1 percent to 2,924 ho useholds.
Table 3.10-3
2021-2040 City of Compton and Compton Station TOD Plan Area Population, Housing, and Jobs Projections without Specific Plan Implementation
2021 2040 2021-2040 Growth
City of
Compton1
Plan Area2
City of
Compton1
Plan Area
City of
Compton
Plan Area
Population 100,534 12,323 102,566 12,628 2.0% (2,032) 2.5% (305) Households 23,359 3,566 24,341 2,924 4.2% (982) 4.1% (116) Employment 28,876 3,953 29,924 4,057 3.6% (1,048) 2.6% (104)
Source:
1 Southern California Association of Governments. 2020. Connect SoCal: Demographics and Growth Forecast . https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal_demographics-and-growth-forecast.pdf?1606001579 * 2 Compton Station Specific Plan Existing Conditions Report, 2020.** * SCAG population projection has been projected linearly to determine 2021 and 2040 conditions ** Existing conditions have been projected linearly to determine 2021 and 2040 conditions
3.10.1.5 Regional Housing Needs Assessment
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is a requirement of State housing law and is a process that determines projected and existing housing need for all jurisdictions (city or unincorporated county) in California. The process to determine a RHNA allocation is conducted by a council of governments, such as SCAG, every eight (8) years. Every jurisdiction must plan for its RHNA allocation in its housing element of its General Plan by ensuring there is enough sites and zoning to accommodate their RHNA al location.
Many jurisdictions use the housing element as an opportunity to complement their economic development, open space, and sustainability goals with its housing goals. Once updated, housing elements are reviewed
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by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and must be adopted by the jurisdiction.
The most recent RHNA allocation for the SCAG region, or the 6th cycle RHNA was adopted in March 2021 and covers the housing element planning period October 2021 to October 2029. The RHNA Allocation Plan projects the need for an additional 1, 004 residential units within the City of Compton by 2029. The breakdown of the 2021 unit allocation by income level is shown in Table 3.10-4.
Table 3.10-4
City of Compton 2021-2029 Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation
Total Very-low Income Low Income Moderate Income Above-moderate Income
1,004 235 121 131 517
Source: SCAG 6th Cycle RHNA Allocation
3.10.2 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
3.10.2.1 Federal Regulations
Federal Uniform Act (URA) (1970)
The Federal Uniform Act ( Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act; 42 U.S. Code [USC] 61), passed by Congress in 1970, is a federal law that establishes minimum standards for federally funded programs and projects that require the acquisition of real property (real estate) or displace persons from their homes, businesses, or farms. The Uniform Act’s protections and assistance apply to the acquisition, rehabilitation, or demolition of real property for federal or federally funded projects.
Department of Housing and Urban Development Act
The Department of Housing and Urban Development Act created the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Cabinet -level agency. HUD is responsible for national policy and programs that address housing needs in the U.S. HUD is responsible for enforcing fair housing laws. HUD plays a major role in supporting homeownership by underwriting homeownership for lower - and moderate-income families through its mortgage insurance programs.
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Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST)
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. No. 114 -94), enacted in 2015, builds on the changes to federal transportation planning law made by MAP -21. It was the first long- term surface transportation authorization enacted in a decade that provides long -term funding certainty for surface transportation. The FAST Act authorizes $305 billion over fiscal years 2016 through 2020 for highway improvements, highway and motor vehicle safety, public transportation, motor carrier safety, hazardou s materials safety, rail, and research, technology, and statistics programs. The FAST Act maintains the focus on safety, keeps intact the established structure of the various highway-related programs, continues efforts to streamline project delivery, and provides a dedicated source of federal dollars for freight projects.
Federal planning regulations, Title 23 CFR 450.322(e)
This federal regulation requires that in development of the regional transportation plan that the MPO validate data utilized in preparing other existing modal plans (such as transit providers long range plans) for providing input to the regional transportation plan. In updating the plan, the MPO shall base the update on the latest available estimates and assumptions for population, land use, travel, employment, congestion, and economic activity. The MPO shall approve transportation plan contents and supporting analyses produced by a transportation plan update.
3.10.2.2 State
1969 California Housing Element Law
The California Housing Element Law (California Government Code §65300) requires SCAG and other regional councils of government in California to determine the existing and projected regional housing needs for persons at all income levels. According to California Government Code §6530 0, each governing body of a local government in California is required to adopt a comprehensive, long- term general plan for the physical development of the city, city and county, or county. The California Housing Element Law, enacted in 1969, mandates that local governments adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community as part of the housing element, one of the seven mandated elements of the local general plan. The California Housing Element Law is implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which is responsible for reviewing local governments’ housing elements for compliance with state law and providing written comments to the local governments. Using the i nformation provided by local governments in its Housing Element, the HCD determines the regional housing need for each county and allocates funding to meet this need to the council of governments for distribution to its jurisdictions. The HCD also oversees distribution of funding related to the regional housing need by the council of governments to the local governments to
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ensure that funds are appropriately allocated. The requirements for the Housing Element are delineated in California Government Code Section 65580–65589.9.
SB 375- The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) focuses on aligning transportation, housing, and other land uses to achieve regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets esta blished under the California Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as Assembly Bill No. 32 (AB 32). SB 375 requires California Metropolitan Planning Organizations to develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) as part of the RTP, with the purposes of identifying policies and strategies to reduce per capita passenger vehicle -generated GHG emissions. In application, the SCS must identify the general location of land uses, residential densities, and building intensities within the region; identify areas within the region sufficient to house all the population of the region; identify areas within the region sufficient to house an eight -year projection of the regional housing need; identify a transportation network to service the regional transportation needs; gather and consider the best practically available scientific information regarding resources areas and farmland in the region; consider the state housing goals; set forth a forecasted development pattern for the region; and allow the regional transportation plan to comply with the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 (42 USC. § 7401 et seq.) (Gov. Code, § 65080, subd. (b)(F)(2)(B)), of which, when integrated with the transportation network, and other transportation measures and policies will reduce the GHG from automobiles and light duty trucks to achieve, if there is a reasonable way to do so, the GHG emission reduction targets approved by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). If the SCS does not achieve the GHG emission targets set by ARB, an Alternative Planning Strategy (APS) must be developed to demonstrate how the targets could be achieved.
SB 375 also imposes a number of new requirements on the regional housing needs process. Prior to SB 375, the regional transportation plan and regional housing needs processes were not required to be coordinated.
SB 375 now synchronizes the schedules of the regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) and regional transportation plan processes every eight years (the next RHNA update, the 6 th cycle, will occur aft er the
2022 RTP). The RHNA, which is developed after the regional transportation plan, must also allocate housing units within the region consistent with the development pattern included in the SCS. Previously, the RHNA determination was based on populatio n projections produced by the Department of Finance.
SB 375 requires the determination to be based upon population projections by the Department of Finance and regional population forecasts used in preparing the regional transportation plan. If the total r egional population forecasted and used in the regional transportation plan is within a range of 1.5 percent (previously 3 percent) of the regional population forecast completed by the Department of Finance for the same planning period, then the population forecast developed by the regional agency and used in the regional transportation plan shall be the basis for the determination. If the difference is greater than 1.5
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percent, then the two agencies shall meet to discuss variances in methodology and seek agreement on a population projection for the region to use as the basis for the RHNA determination. If no agreement is reached, then the basis for the RHNA determination shall be the regional population projection created by the Department of Finance.
Existing law requires local governments to adopt a housing element as part of their general plan. Unlike the rest of the general plan, where updates sometimes occur at intervals of 20 years or longer, under previous law the housing element was required to be updated as frequently as needed and no less than every five years. Under SB 375, this period has been lengthened to eight years and timed so that the housing element period begins no less than 18 months after adoption of the regional transportation plan, to encourage closer coordination between the housing and transportation planning. SB 375 also changes the implementation schedule required in each housing element. Previous law required the housing element to contain a program which set forth a five -year schedule of to implement the goals and objectives of the housing element. The new law instead requires this schedule of actions to occur during the eight -year housing element planning period, and requires each action have a timetable for implementation.
Regional Housing Needs Assessment
As discussed above in the discussion of SB 375, State law requires preparation of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation plan every eight years. The RHNA is a key tool for the Southern California Association of Governments ( SCAG) and its member governments to plan for this growth. The RHNA quantifies the regional need for housing that is allocated to each jurisdiction for a certain planning period (the current forecast extends through 2029) . Communities then plan, consider, and decide how they will address this need through the process of completing the Housing Elements of their General Plans. The RHNA does not necessarily encourage or promote growth, but rather allows communities to anticipate growth, so that they can grow in ways that enhance quality of life, improve access to jobs, transportation and housing, and not adversely impact the environment.
This region’s RHNA allocation plan is developed every eight years by SCAG after preparation of the RTP, as mandated by state law, to coincide with the region’s schedule for preparing Housing Elements. It consists of two measurements of housing need: (1) existing need and (2) future need for very -low income, low-income, moderate, and above-moderate income categories.
The existing need assessment is based on data from the most recent US Census to measure ways in which the housing market is not meeting the needs of current residents. These variables include the number of low-income households paying more t han 30 percent of their income for housing, as well as severe overcrowding.
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The future need for housing is determined primarily by the forecasted growth in households in a community, based on historical growth patterns, job creation, household formation rates, and other factors to estimate how many households will be added to each community over the projection period. The housing need for new households is then adjusted to account for an ideal level of vacancy needed to promote housing choice, maintain pric e competition, and encourage acceptable levels of housing upkeep and repair. The RHNA also accounts for units expected to be lost due to demolition, natural disaster, or conversion to non- housing uses. The sum of these factors household growth, vacancy nee d and replacement need form the “construction need” assigned to each community.
Finally, the RHNA considers how each jurisdiction might grow in ways that will decrease the concentration of low-income households in certain communities. The need for new housing is distributed among income groups so that each community moves closer to the regional average income distribution.
California Department of Housing and Community Development State Housing Law (Government Code Section 65580) requires local government plans to address the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community through their housing elements. The housing element is one of seven state -mandated elements that every General Plan must contain, and it is required to be updated every eight years and determined legally adequate by the state.
The purpose of the housing element is to identify the community’s housing needs, state the community’s goals and objectives with regard to housing production, rehabilitation, and conservation to meet those needs. In addition, the Housing Element defines the related policies and programs that the community will implement in order to achieve the stated goals and ob jectives. This would be accomplished through the allocation of regional housing needs consistent with the SCS.
Senate Bill No. 2
SB 2 (Chapter 633, Statutes of 2007) strengthens state housing element law (Government Code Section 65583) by ensuring that eve ry jurisdiction identifies potential sites where new emergency shelters can be located without discretionary review by the local government. It also increases protections for providers seeking to open a new emergency shelter, transitional housing , or supportive housing development, by limiting the instances in which local governments can deny such developments.
California Relocation Assistance Act
The California Relocation Assistance Act (Government Code Section 7260 et seq. ) establishes uniform policies to provide for the fair and equitable treatment of people displaced from their homes or businesses as a direct result of state and/or local government projects or programs. The California Relocation
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Assistance Act requires that comparable replacement housin g be made available to displaced persons within a reasonable period of time prior to the displacement. Displaced persons or businesses are assured payment for their acquired property at fair market value. Relocation assistance in the form of advisory assistance and financial benefits would be provided at the local level. This includes aid in finding a new home location, payments to help cover moving costs, and additional payments for certain other costs.
Zenovich–Moscone–Chacon Housing and Home Finance Act of 1975 In response to state population and household growth, and to ensure the availability of affordable housing for all income groups, the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is responsible for determining the regional housing need for all jurisdictions in California.
Senate Bill 535: California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)
SB 535 was signed into law by Governor Brown on September 30, 2012. This bill sets aside cap and trade revenues to mitigate climate change in disadvantaged communities. The California EPA is the responsible agency for identifying disadvantaged communities for potential investment. The California Department of Finance must allocate 25 percent of the available money s in the GGRF to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and a minimum of 10 percent to projects located within disadvantaged communities.
Homeowners and Private Property Protection Act
In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 99, the Homeow ners and Private Property Protection Act, which amended the California Constitution so that local governments are prohibited from using eminent domain authority to acquire an owner -occupied residence for the purposes of conveying it to a private recipient, with limited exceptions. Proposition 99 applies only to owner-occupied residences but cities may still use eminent domain authority to convey multi- family and non- residential property to other private parties.
3.10.2.3 Local and Regional
Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) SCAG is an association of local governments and agencies that serves as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, a Regional Transportation Planning Agency, and a Council of Governments. The SCAG region encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 cities. SCAG is responsible for developing long-range regional transportation plans,
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including the regional Sustainable Communities Strategy and associa ted growth forecasts, regional transportation improvement programs, regional housing needs allocations and a portion of the South Coast Air Quality management plans (SCAG 2018).
SCAG’s 2020- 2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), Connect SoCal, is a long-range regional transportation and land use network plan that looks ahead 20+ years and provides a vision of the region’s future mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental and public health goals. Connect SoCal builds upon and expands land use and transportation strategies established over several planning cycles to increase mobility options and achieve a more sustainable growth pattern. It charts a path toward a more mobile, sustainable a nd prosperous region by making connections between transportation networks, between planning strategies and between the people whose collaboration can improve the quality of life for Southern Californians. SCAG adopted its current RTP/SCS in September 2020.
City of Compton General Plan
General plans can be described as a city or county’s “blueprint” for future development. It represents the community’s view of its future; a constitution made up of the goals and policies upon which the city council, board of supervisors, or planning commission will base their land use decisions. To illustrate its importance, all subdivisions, public works projects, and zoning decisions (except in charter cities) must be consistent with the general plan. If inconsistent, they must not be approved.
The General Plan is a policy document with planned land use maps and related information that are designed to give long-range guidance to City officials making decisions affecting the growth and resources of Compton. This document he lps to ensure that day -to-day decisions are in conformance with the long - range program designed to protect and further the public interest related to the City of Compton’s growth and development. The General Plan also serves as a guide to the private secto r of the economy in relating its development initiatives to the public plans, objectives, and policies of the City.
The document was last updated in 1990, during a time when the City’s crime and poverty were at historic highs. Therefore, the focus of the Plan was on stabilization and revitalization. Key objectives include ensuring that residents from all income levels have access to decent, affordable housing, and provide residents with ready access to housing, employment, and commercial services.
Goals and policies from the City of Compton’s General Plan 2030 that relate to the Compton TOD Specific Plan include:
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Land Use Goal 1. Revitalize Compton, and create a safe, attractive, desirable community with attracts new businesses and residents of all income ranges.
Policy 1.2. Adopt redevelopment plans for the City’s commercial and industrial areas; limit the use of eminent domain in carrying out redevelopment programs.
Policy 1.4. Establish an implement a comprehensive economic development strategy which works in concert with redevelopment, housing, and land use goals Policy 1.6. Promote quality design in new development projects Policy 1.8. Use specific plans and similar planning approaches to focus revitalization efforts on target neighborhoods.
Land Use Goal 2. Maintain a balanced and diversified distribution of land use in Compton Policy 2.1. Provide increased market rate housing opportunities.
Policy 2.2. Provide incentives to attract retail commercial businesses which serve both the local and regional markets.
Policy 2.3. Encourage mixed use residential and retail/service commercial developments along Compton and Rosecrans Boulevards and Wilmington Avenue.
Land Use Goal 3. Provide a wide range of business opportunities and establish a strong commercial and industrial base
Policy 3.2. In efforts to attract new businesses, emphasize Compton’s accessibility via passenger rail, freeways, and arterial highways.
Policy 3.3. Recognize the important role that small, local businesses play in the local economy through their provision of jobs, as a source of sales tax revenue, and by providing a sense of identity to the City.
Land Use Goal 4. Provide infrastructure systems and public services that adequately meet the demands created by land use policy.
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Policy 4.1. Limit development of new Medium and High Density Residential projects to those areas where water, sewer, and street systems can support more dense development. Require systems to be upgraded as necessary to support higher residential densities.
Policy 4.2. Income necessary infrastructure improvements in project plans and funding arrangements in areas targeted for redevelopment and revitalization
Policy 4.3. Involve the Fire and Police Departments in the review of development proposals to ensure that these agencies’ needs and concerns are accounted for in project design.
Housing Element Goal 4. The City of Compton will encourage development of a viable urban community consistent with orderly growth and environmental conservation to provide suitable living environments, with access to employment, community facilities, and services.
Policy 4.3. The City of Compton will encourage the application of high quality urban design standards to create safe, attractive, functional housing units and neighborhoods.
Policy 4.6. The City o f Compton will identify the best possible locations and development standards for residential development and encourage a high quality environment for family life.
Conservation/Open Space Element
Policy 1.2. Locate multi-family development close to commercial areas to encourage pedestrian rather than vehicular travel.
Policy 1.3. Develop a balance of land uses within the City to promote a reduction of distance between residence and workplace.
City of Compton 2014-2021 Housing Element
City of Compton 2014-2013 Housing Element d etails plans and programs for the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing housing in the City and the development of new housing to accommodate future demand. The County’s Housing Element goals include:
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• Goal 1: The City of Compton will improve the housing supply and the choice of housing opportunities through private investment and, where necessary, through public action and financing. • Goal 2: The City of Compton will promote affordable housing and shelter for all economic segments of the community.
• Goal 3: The City of Compton will support and provide incentives for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock.
• Goal 4: The City of Compton will encourage development of a viable urban community consistent with orderly growth and environmental conservation to provide suitable living environments, with access to employment, community facilities, and services.
• Goal 5: The City of Compton will promote equal access and opportunity to housing regardless of race, religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, or color.
3.10.3 THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE
The following thresholds for determining the significance of impacts rela ted to hazards and hazardous materials are contained in the environmental checklist form contained in Appendix G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption and/or implementation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan could result in significant impacts due to the unplanned changes in population and housing , if any of the following would occur:
• Induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through the extension of roads or other infrastructure).
• Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere.
3.10.4 METHODOLOGY
The analysis assesses the potential impacts to population, housing, and employment resources that could result from implementation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan.
Impacts are assessed from both proposed land use and proposed transportation changes. To c alculate the potential population growth that would occur under the Specific Plan, this analysis considers the anticipated number of new units that would be constructed and the number of people that could
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potentially reside in these units based on the aver age vacancy rate and household size in the City and Plan Area. Vacancy rates and household sizes can vary based on economic conditions and other factors.
The number of vacant units and household sizes used in this analysis are provided in Table 3.10-2.
3.10.5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Impact POP-1 Induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through the extension of roads or other infrastructure) Less than Significant Impact.
It is conservatively anticipated that the implementation of the Specific Plan would result in an addition of 2,178 housing units, including 1, 444 market rate units, and 734 affordable units, along with an increase in 148,000 sf of nonresidential square footage . The proposed addition of 2,178 residential dwellings would increase the number of residents in Compton.
Population and Housing
Implementation of the Plan would result in a pattern of land use that directs future growth in an already urbanized area where growth can be supported by existing transportation infrastructure and where different types of land uses can be intermingled to reduce the length and incidence of vehicle trips, in line with state mandates to achieve sustainability targets. The intermingling or co-locating of different types of land uses reduces the length and incidence of vehicle trips by allowing people to trip chain, grouping two or more trip purposes into one single trip. By locating housing and jobs together, in the area surrounding the Metro A Line station, VMT reductions and its associated benefits (i.e., GHG reductions) can be better achieved.
The Specific Plan would introduce mixed-use residential and commercial development that would be concentrated in the Civic Center, Commercial Core, and Historical Core. The addition of 2,178 housing units will increase the housing stock by 9.3 percent and 61 percent in the City of Compton and Plan Area, respectively. The r esidential units are conservatively expected to exhibit the characteristics of average Plan Area households, which are 96.6 percent occupied 9 with about 4.39 persons per
household (see Table 3.10-2).10 Based on these characteristics, the Specific Plan would add
9 The Compton Station Existing Conditions report estimated that the housing vacancy rate will be 3.4 percent by the end of 2023. See: The City of Compton. Compton Station Specific Plan Existing Conditions Report. 2020. 10 US Census Bureau. Compton City, California Profile. 2019. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0615044, accessed February 2, 2022.
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approximately 9,236 residents to the Plan Area, the City of Compton, and County of Los Angeles, resulting in an increase of 75 percent, 9.1 percent and 0.09 percent, respectively, of the total populations.
Table 3.10-5 shows details on how the Project would increase housing and population in the City and County.
Table 3.10-5
Population and Housing Increase Associated with Specific Plan
Compton TOD Plan Area1 City of Compton2 Los Angeles County3 Population
Existing (2021) 12,323 100,534 10,014,009
Proposed (2040) 9,236 9,236 9,236
New Total 21,559 109,770 10,023,245
Percent Increase 75% 9.1% 0.09%
Housing
Existing (2021) 3,5664 23,359 3,641,809
Proposed (2040) 2,178 2,178 2,178
New Total 5,744 25,537 3,643,987
Percent Increase 61% 9.3% 0.06%
Source:
1 Compton Station Specific Plan Existing Conditions Report, 2020 * 2 Southern California Association of Governments. 2020. Connect SoCal: Demographics and Growth Forecast. https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/0903fconnectsocal_demographics-and-growth-forecast.pdf?1606001579** 3 US Census
4 Compton Station TOD Specific Plan. 2022.
* Existing conditions have been projected linearly to determine 2021 and 2040 conditions ** SCAG population projection has been projected linearly to determine 2021 and 2040 conditions
The Specific Plan would exceed the population and housing projecting over the next 20 years. However, this is considered insignificant because the growth within the Plan area would only represent 0.09 percent of the County’s incremental population growth. As discussed in Section 3.13 Utilities and Service Systems and Section 3.11 Public Services, the Plan would not increase the need for additional housing, commercial, or public services beyond what is proposed for the Specific Plan.
While the Specific Plan would create a substantial amount of population growth, the Plan would be consistent with the applicable goals and polices of the Housing Element, which aim to provide a variety of types and an adequate supply of housing to meet the existing and future needs of City residents. In addition, the Specific Plan would accommodate the RHNA by permitting multi-family projects in mixed - use commercial- and residential-buildings. The RHNA for the City is 1,004 affordable units as shown in
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Table 3.10- 4, City of Compton 2021 -2029 Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation , and the Specific Plan includes 734 units of affordable housing which would further assist the City in meeting this goal. The Specific Plan would promote the future development of affor dable housing units as developments in the area would be eligible for density bonus, transit-oriented, and other development incentives that reward the creation of affordable units. The Specific Plan would promote the creation of residential units of all levels of affordability to accommodate the various needs of residents.
The TOD approach to concentrating new development near transit is consistent with State policy aimed at meeting housing needs while reducing vehicle trips and improving air quality. As a result, the Plan would better accommodate projected population and housing demand with the proposed land use and zoning changes in place. Although it is possible that the expected population growth in the Plan area would exceed the SCAG forecasts for this area, the Plan would not induce significant population growth in the City or the County , and would serve to accommodate projected citywide and countywide growth in a more intentional and sustainable manner in accordance with the policies of SB 375 and Connect SoCal. Therefore, the Plan would not induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, and impacts would be less than significant.
Employment
Table 3.10-6 shows the estimated employment upon implementation of the Specific Plan. Development under the Specific Plan is expected to include a mix of commercial and office uses, as well as a 150 -room hotel, totaling approximately 148,000 square feet of net new non- residential uses. SCAG’s growth forecast assumes an increase of 2,600 jobs for the City by 2045.
The Specific Plan would facilitate 97,000 square feet of net new office space, and a 150-room hotel totaling 90,000 square feet . While there will be a loss of 32 retail jobs associated with the redevelopment of some large format retail to other uses, there would be an increase of 159 office jobs in the Plan area, and the new hotel would create approximately 45 jobs , resulting in a net gain of 172 jobs through 2040. Additionally, the proximity of housing to commercial and industrial centers would encourage complete neighborhoods where jobs and services are close to where people live.
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Table 3.10-6
Estimated Onsite Employment Associated with the Specific Plan
Land Use Build Out Square Footage Square Feet per Employee1 Total New Employees Retail -39,000 1,200 -32
Hotel 90,000 1,982 45
Office 97,000 609 159
Total 172
1Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Table B2 Summary table: total and medians of floorspace, number of workers, and hours of operation, 2018. Available online at: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2018/bc/html/b2.php
The projected increase in jobs resulting under the Plan would support new employment opportunities but would not include employment -generating uses that would result in unanticipated or unplanned for growth in population. The Plan directs growth to an area identified by SCAG as High Quality Transit Areas (HQTA). Therefore, the Plan is consistent with the RTP/SCS assumptions that the majority of new housing and commercial development in the re gion will occur within a half mile of well- serviced transit stops. Job growth in the area will be within a half mile of the Metro A Line station. The proximity of these jobs to transit will result in fewer vehicle trips as commuters travel to and from home to work daily. It is generally more sustainable and desirable for jobs and housing to be concentrated in areas well- served by transit, assuming jobs wages, housing costs, and location are balanced, allowing people to live closer to their jobs.
Growth Forecast
The 9,236 new residents associated with Specific Plan would exceed SCAG’s growth forecast for the area and the 2,178 housing units would exceed the projected housing growth for the City, but this growth would represent a marginal amount of growth within the County over the planning period , and would not increase the need for additional housing and infrastructure beyond what is proposed within the Specific Plan.
Additionally, this growth would be in line with SCAG’s policies and the City’s housing and land use elements goals and policies, which aim to achieve and maintain a high degree of quality and safety in the City’s housing stock, and to provide a variety of housing types. Further, the low-income units generated by the Specific Plan would assist the City in meeting its 2021-2029 RHNA allocation (see Table 3.10-4). The Specific Plan would encourage medium- and high- density development adjacent to the Metro A Line Compton Station, thereby locating residents and job opportunities near light -rail transportation. In addition, the Specific Plan would provide the framework for developing new recreational resources,
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including new open spaces and parks, new pedestrian and bicycle trails and amenities, and the revitalization of public plazas.
The SCAG Connect SoCal RTP/SCS provides the framework for growth in the region. In accordance with this regional plan, the Specific Plan would promote transit- oriented development in the Plan Area by including housing and employment opportunities within a half-mile radius of the Compton Metro Blue Line station. The proposed Specific Plan would concentrate development in these opportunity sites, along the Blue Line, and between the surrounding public and commercial areas. The Specific Plan would also promote new and improved bicycle infrastructure, new pedestrian connections throughout the Plan Area, and complete streets to serve the development of new, multi -family housing units. This type of development is encouraged in the goals and land use policies of SCAG’s Connect SoCal RTP/SCS and incorporates all five of the land use strategies discussed in the RTP/SCS. As such, development anticipated in the Plan Area is in line with the goals and policies of SCAG’s Connect SoCal RTP/SCS.
In summary, population, housing and employment generation associated with the proposed Specific Plan exceeds the growth forecasts for the City of Compton. However, implementation of the Specific Plan would help the SCAG region and City achieve its goals relating to growth, housing, and employment as the project would encourage sustainable development and transit-oriented design. The Plan is also in line with State policies for housing, economic development, air quality, and sustainability, as well as other adopted housing growth policies. Lastly, the population, housing and employment growth under the Specific Plan would be in line with the goals and policies of the City’s Housing Element, as described above. For these reasons impacts to population, housing and employment growth would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Impact POP-2 Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere.
Less than significant.
A primary objective of the Specific Plan is to facilitate the addition of a variety of housing types that would be compatible with existing residential conditions in the City. The Specific Plan proposes no demolition or changes to the existing residential housing stock in the Plan Area. Instead , the Specific Plan would permit up to 2, 178 units of high -density, infill, mixed -use development in existing non- residential ar eas.
Additionally, the Specific Plan emphasizes the preservation of existing low -density neighborhoods and
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their character, and no changes are proposed for the single -family residential areas or multi- family residential areas east of Rose Avenue to North Matthisen Avenue.
The exact location and size of future residential development is unknown at this time, but future growth would be concentrated within the half -mile radius around the Compton Metro A Line Station. The Plan aims to add to the inventory of housing stock. However, in limited instances, the Plan could potentially cause a temporary reduction in housing stock as new buildings are built in place of older ones or as existing buildings are renovated or expanded. This can be the case if individual property owners choose to demolish an existing residential building and redevelop to a more intense or dense development than existing currently. For example, an owner could decide to demolish an existing single -family house and build a four-plex on a parcel that allows for low-density multi-family residential housing.
Concerns about indirect displacement of people have been raised citywide. The rising cost of ho using is currently a concern throughout the City, reflective of the shortage of housing in the region as a whole. As population growth continues to outpace the production of housing units, the existing supply of housing is in higher demand which leads to higher rents/prices. Many renters are experiencing financial strain as average rents rise, and would-be homeowners watch as neighborhoods where home prices may have once been within their reach grow prohibitively expensive. This occurrence may result in displacement of renters and may result in the need for people that live in the Plan area to move outside the area or potentially outside of the City. But there is no substantial evidence that there is a reasonable method to predict how many people may potenti ally be displaced over the Plan horizon. Additionally, there is no industry standard methodology available to forecast transportation, air, noise, or other impacts associated with people who have moved out of the CPA. The Specific Plan includes several policies to ensure that affordable housing will be provided to allow current residents to stay in the neighborhood, and identifies several opportunity sites for the development of more housing to combat displacement. In addition, T he State of California has recently passed several state laws to address the housing crisis. Recent state laws such as AB 1482, also set forth requirements for landlords to have a “just cause” in order to terminate a tenancy and limits to annual rent increases. 11
In conclusion, impacts related to displacement would be less than significant, as the adoption of the Plan would not directly result in physical changes that would cause the displacement of a substantial number of people or housing, necessitating the construction of replace ment housing elsewhere. No specific residential units, affordable or market rate, are proposed to be demolished or removed through other means as part of the Plan. The Plan may cause a temporary reduction in housing stock as new buildings
11 City of Los Angeles, Housing Department. AB 1482 – State Rent Control. Available at:
https://housing.lacity.org/residents/ab-1482.
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are built in pla ce of older ones or as existing buildings are renovated. Indirect displacement is occurring in the City due to market forces and indirect displacement would not be solely caused by implementation of the Proposed Plan. Therefore, it is not expected that th e Plan would displace substantial number of people necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere. Additionally, any impact resulting from displacement if it occurs would be speculative. This impact is less than significant.
Less than Significant Impact.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
3.10.6 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
As discussed in Section 2, Project Description, the Specific Plan would accommodate up to 2, 178 multi- family residential units, a net reduction in 39,000 square feet of new retail space, 97,000 square feet of new office space, and a 90,000 square feet, 150-room hotel. In addition to the development capacity of the Proposed Specific Plan, the City of Compton is developing a TOD Specific Plan surrounding the Artesia A Line Station, which includes the Art -Com mixed -use development and the Crystal Casino redevelopment. The Artesia TOD Specific Plan will add 989 units of housing, 36,988 square feet of reta il space, 52,447 square feet of office space, and 73,000 square feet of other commercial space. This will result in a total addition of 3,167 units of housing, 149,447 square feet of office space, 73,000 square feet of other commercial space, a 150-room hotel, and a net loss of 2,012 square feet of retail to the City of Compton.
Additionally, there are several developments in the pipeline in Specific Plan Area , including 501/601 E Compton Boulevard, which will contain 290 residential units, an Innovation Hu b, and 7,000 square feet of retail uses at N Willow Avenue and Compton Boulevard.
While the Specific Plan and other proposed development would increase the intensity of population, housing, and employment growth in Compton beyond that envisioned in the Compton General Plan adopted in 1991 and Connect SoCal RTP/SCS, the development would be consistent with overall goals and policies of the General Plan, the 2014 -2021 Housing Element, and the Connect SoCal RTP/SCS to focus growth and investment in transit -oriented communities. In addition, the growth in housing units would further the goals the Regional Housing Needs Assessment and support the significant housing needs of the Los Angeles region. Any future developments proposed within the Plan Area and the City would need to be reviewed on a case- by-case basis for compliance with the Specific Plan and the City’s General Pla n, Housing Element, SCAG Connect S oCal RTP/SCS , and any other relevant governing policies or plans.
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Therefore, the project-specific impacts associated with land use consistency would be less than significant.
Potential impacts would not be cumulatively considerable.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.
3.10.7 REFERENCES
California Department of Finance. E-5 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2011-2019 with 2010 Census Benchmark. Accessible online at:
http://dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Estimates/E-5/, accessed November 30, 2021.
City of Compton, Housing Element of the General Plan. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/documents/Compton%20Housing%20Element_09 -3-19.pdf, accessed November 30, 2021.
City of Los Angeles, Housing Department. AB 1482 – State Rent Control. Available at:
https://housing.lacity.org/residents/ab-1482.
The Compton Station Existing Conditions report estimated that the housing vacancy rate will be 3.4 percent by the end of 2023. See: The City of Compton. Compton Station Specific Plan Existing Conditions Report. 2020.
US Census Bureau. City of Compton Population Data. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=compton%20california&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1, accessed November 30, 2021
US Census Bureau. Compton City, California Profile. 2019. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0615044, accessed February 2, 2022.
US Census Bureau. Los Angeles County Population Data. Available online at:
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Los%20Angeles%20County,%20California&tid=DECENNI ALPL2020.P1, accessed February 2, 2022.
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3.11 PUBLIC SERVICES AND RECREATION
INTRODUCTION
This section describes the existing public services within the City, identifies the regulatory framework with respect to regulations that addresses public resources, and evaluates the significance of the p otential changes to public resources that could result from implementation of the Specific Plan. In addition, to reduce impacts, mitigation measures are included when applicable. The public services evaluated in this section include Fire Services, Police Services, Educational Facilities, Recreational Facilities, and Library Services.
3.11.1 FIRE PROTECTION
3.11.1.1 Environmental Setting
Fire protecti on and other related services are provided by the Compton Fire Department. There are four fire stations in th e City: Station Number 1 (Fire Headquarter s) is located at 201 South Acacia Avenue, less than a quarter mile southwest of the Plan Area near the Ci vic Center. Station Number 2 is located at 1320 East Palmer Street, less than a mile east of the Plan Area. Station Number 3 is located at 1133 Rosecrans Avenue, about 1.3 miles northwest from the center of the Plan Area. Station Number 4 is located at 950 West Walnut Street, approximately 1.75 miles southwest of the Plan Area. Figure 3.11- 1, Compton Fire Stations, illustrates the location of these stations relative to the City and Plan Area.
The City of Compton maintains its own Fire Department for fire protection. The Compton Fire Department’s services include fire /rescue emergency responses, emergency medical services, fire prevention, hazardous materials, and emergency preparedness/public education in fire safety and prevention. The Compton Fire Department has 84 sworn employees and five civilian employees. Its resources include n ine front- line emergency vehicles comprised of four fire engines, one truck, two paramedic squads, and two basic life support transport ambulances. 1 Certain structures in Compton, due to their age and composition, pose a greater challenge for f ire protecti on, such as multi- story, wood frame, high density apartments, multi- story office buildings, hazardous substances consisting of combustible roofing materials, and structures involved in the storing, handing, and use of hazardous materials. Additionally, train traffic carrying hazardous materials increase s risk of fire in the City (See Section 3.6, Hazards and Hazardous Materials ). In 2021, t he City’s population was e stimated to be 100,534 while the Plan area is 12,323 (See Section 3.10, Population and Housing).
1 City of Compton Fire Department, Core Services. 2022. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/depts/fire/default.asp.
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The Compton Fire Department sets its res ponse time goals based on the National Fire Pr otection Association and national avera ges, which is between five and seven minutes. Currently, the Compton Fire Department’s average response time is four minutes and 30 seconds.2
2 Ibid at Performance.
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3.11.1.2 Regulatory Framework
Federal
Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA)
In March 2003, the Federal Emergency Management A gency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securit y. FEMA's continuing miss ion within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activit ies, trains first respon ders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire A dministration Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (42 U.S. C. § 5121 note) was signed into law to amend the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief Act of 1 988 (42 U.S.C. §5121- 5207). Among other things, this new legislation reinforces the importance of pre -disaster infrastructure mitigation planning to reduce disaster losses nationwide, and is aimed primarily at the control and strea mlining of the administra tion of federal disaster relief and programs to promote mitigation activit ies. Some of the major p rovisions o f the Act include:
• funding pre-disaster mitigation activities;
• developing experimental multi-hazard maps to better understand risk; • establishing state and local government infrastructure mitigation planning requirements; • defining how states can assume more responsibility in managing the Hazard Mitigation G rant Program (HMGP); and
• adjusting ways in which management costs for projects are funded.
The mitigation planning provisions outlined in Section 322 of the Act es tablish performance based standards for mitigation plans and requires states to have a public assistance program (Advance Infrastructure Mitigation—AIM) to develop county government p lans. The consequence for counties that fail to develop an infrastructure mitigation plan is the c hance of a re duced federal share of damage assistance from 75 perc ent to 25 percent if the damaged facility has been damaged on more t han one occasion in the preceding ten-year period by the same type of event.
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Federal Fire Safety Act
The Federal Fire Safety Act (FFSA) of 1992 is significantly different from other laws affecting fire safety as the Law applies to federal operations, an d there is no requirement for local action unless a private building owner leases space to the fed eral government. The Federal Fire Sa fety Act (FFSA) requires federal agencies to provide sp rinkler protection in any building, whether owned or leased by the f ederal government that houses at least 25 federal employees during the course of their employment.
State
California Fire Code
Title 24, Part 9 of the California Code of Regulati ons (CCR) is the California Fire Code. Title 24, Part 9 of the CCR sets fort h regulations regarding building standards, fire protection and notification systems, fire protection devices such as fire extinguishe rs and smoke alarms, high -rise building standa rds, and fire suppression training. The 2019 California Fire Code is the inc orporation of the 2018 International Fire Code of the International Code Council with ne cessary California amendments. Development und er the proposed project would be subject to applicable regulations of the California Fire Code.
Title 8 California Code of Regulations Sections 1270 and 6773. In accord ance with C.C.R., Title 8 Sections 1270 “ Fire Prevention” and 6773 “Fire Protection and Fir e Equipment,” the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal OSHA) has established minimum standards for fire suppression and emergency medical services. The standards include, but are n ot limited to, guidelines on the handling of hig hly combustible materials, fire hosing sizing requirements, restrictions on the use of compressed air, access roads, and t he testing, maintenance, and use of all firefight ing and emergency medical equipment.
Uniform Fire Code
The Uniform Fire Code (UFC) c ontains regulations relating to construction, maintena nce, and use of buildings. Topics addressed in the cod e include fire department access, fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fir e and explosion hazards safet y, hazardous mater ials storage and use, provisions intended to protect a nd assist fire responders, industrial pro cesses, an d many other gene ral and specialized fire-safety requirements for new and existing buildings and the surrounding premises.
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California Health and Safety Code
State fire regulations are set forth in Sections 13000 et seq. of the California Health and Safety Code, which includes regulations for building standards (as set forth in the California Building Code), fire protection and notification systems, fire protection devices, and fire suppression training.
Mutual Aid Agreements (MAA)
The Emergency M anagers Mutual Aid (EMMA) s ystem is a collaborated effort between city and county emergency managers in the Offic e of E mergency Services (OES) in the coastal, so uthern, and inland regions of the state. EMMA provides service in the emergency response and recovery eff orts at the Southern Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC), local Emergency Operations Centers (EO Cs), the Disaster Field Offic e (DFO), and commu nity service centers. The purpose of EMMA is to support disaster operations in affected in affected jurisdictions by providing professional emergency management personnel. In accordance with the Master Mutual Aid A greement, local and stat e emergency managers have responded in support of each other under a variety of plans and procedures.
California Code of Regulations Division 2 Section 16
The State of California passed legislation creating the California Emer gency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and authorizing it to prepare a Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) program, which sets forth measures by which a jurisdiction s hould handle emergency disasters. Non -compliance with SEMS could result in the State w ithholding disaster relief fro m the non- complying jurisdiction in the event of an emergency disaster.
Cal EMA serves as the lead state agency for emerge ncy management in the state. Cal EMA coordinates the state response to major emergencies in support of l ocal government. The primary responsibility for emergency management resides with local government. L ocal jurisdictions first use their own re sources and, as they are exhausted, obtain more from neighboring cities and special districts, the county in whic h they are located, and other counties throughout the state through the statewide mutual aid system.
Assembly Bill No. 9
Passed in September of 2021, AB 9 establish es in the Department of Conservation the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program to suppo rt regional leadership to build local and region al capacity and develop, prioritize, and implement str ategies and projects that create fire adapted communities and landsc apes by improving ecosys tem heal th, community wildfire preparedness, and fire resilien ce. Th e bill require s, among other things, the department, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, to provide block grants to
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regional entities, as defined, to develop reg ional strategies that develop governance structures, identify wildfire risks, foster collaboration, and prioritize and implement pr ojects within the region to achieve the goals of the p rogram. The bill also requires the department, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, to provide block grants to eligible coordinating organizations, a s defined, to support the statewide implementation of the pro gram through coordination of and technica l assistance to regional entities, as well as to support forest health and resilience efforts across regions and throughout the state. Finally, t he bill requires the department to publish and update inf ormation on program implementation, as specified, on its internet website.3
Local
City of Compton General Plan
The State of California requires every county and city to adopt a General Plan, which must conta in a Safety Element. The fol lowing policies incl uded in the City ’s Public Safety E lement and the Public Facilities Element of the General Plan guide the City in reducing the risk of fire to life and property:
Public Safety Element Goal 3.0: Protect life and property in Compton from urban fires.
Policy 3.1. Establish an additional fire station in the area east of Alameda Street.
Policy 3.2. Maintain building code req uirements for new cons truction that insure provision of adequate fire protection.
Policy 3.3. Maintain mutual aid agreements wit h surrounding jur isdictions for fire protection.
Policy 3.4. Maintain an ongoing fire inspection program to r educe fire haz ards associated with older buildings, critical facilities, public assembl y facilities, industrial buildings, and commercial buildings.
Policy 3.5. Maintain and p eriodically review procedures for dealing with f ire emergencies in the City’s Emergency Plan.
Policy 3.6 The City will support a Fire Reserve Program sponsored by the Compton Fire Department to supplement full-time firefighting staff.
3 Assembly Bill No. 9. California State Legislature. September 24, 2021. Available online at:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB9, accessed on November 24, 2021.
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Public Facilities Element Goal 1.0: Maintain im proved levels of pol ice, fire, and other emergency services.
Policy 1.1 Periodically evaluate services and service criteria to ensure the City has adequate police, fire, and other emergency services.
Policy 1.2 Pursue state and federal monies to offset t he cost of emergency services as available.
Policy 1.3 Assess the impacts of incremental increases in development density and traffic congestion on fi re haz ards and emergency response time, and ensure through the design review process, that new development will not result in reduced emergency services below acceptable levels.
Policy 1.4 Establish an additional fire station in the area east of Alameda Street.
Policy 1.7 Require all new commer cial and multiple-unit reside ntial development to i nstall fire pr otection systems and encourage the use of automatic sprinkler systems.
3.11.1.3 Impacts And Mitigation Measures
Thresholds of Significance
The following thres holds for determining the sig nificance of impacts related to hazards and hazardous materials are contained in the environmental checklist form conta ined in Appendix G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption and/or impleme ntation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan could result in significant impacts due to the use of fire services, if any of the following would occur:
• Result in substan tial adverse physical impacts assoc iated with the provision of new or physically altered g overnmental facilities, need for new or physica lly altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order t o maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for fire protection.
Methodology
The ne ed for, or deficiency in , adequate fire and em ergency response services in and of itself is not a CEQA impact, but a so cial or economic impact. (City of Hayward v. B’d of Trustees (2015) 242 Cal.App. 4th 833, 843.) To the extent that the Proposed Plan causes a need for additional fire and emergency response services that result in the construction of new facilities or addi tions to existing facilities and the impact
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from that construction results in a potential impact to the environment , that is a CEQA impact that needs to be assessed in this EIR. Any discussion in this EIR that relates solely to the level of fire and life s afety services provided to the residents or users of the Specific Plan and its surrounding community, including any e xisting or future n eeds and deficiencies, is for infor mational purposes onl y. The ultimate determination of whether there is a significant impact related to fire and emergency response services is based on whether a significant impact will result from t he construction of new or expanded fire and emergency response facilities.
3.11.1.4 Environmental Impacts
PS-1 Would th e p roject result in su bstantial adverse physical impacts associated with the p rovision of new or ph ysically altered fire protecti on facilities, need for new or physically altered fi re protection facilities, the construction of which could c ause significan t environmental impacts , in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives? Less than Significant Impact
Development accommodated by the proposed Sp ecific Plan would increase the City’s population and, therefore, increase demand for f ire protection services . The addition of 2,178 multi-family units anticipated by the Specific Plan could result in approximately 9,236 additional residents by 2040. Non- residential square footage (office and hotel) would also increase by 148,000 resultin g approximately 172 additional jobs in the Specific Plan area.
As discussed above, the Compton Fire Department sets its response t ime goals based on the National Fire Protection Association and national averages, which is between five and seven minutes. Currently the Compton Fire Department’s response times are slightly below national average at four minutes and 30 seconds. As such, the City is operating within acceptable response times.
Construction
Buildout of the project includes the development an d construction of retail , office, hotel, and residential uses. Construction activities associated with buildout of the Specific Plan have th e potential to increase fire hazards. Construction of fu ture projects could require large amounts of flammable const ruction materials (including wood framing) and the installation of electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems.
Although rare, fires do occ ur at construction sites, thus, all future projects would be subject to Compton Fire Department codes and inspection by Fire personnel. In addition, all future projects would be subject to City requirements relative to water availability and accessibility t o firefighting equipment, as well as
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comply with City, C ounty, and state fire protection regulations. Construction ac tivities could also result in traffic delays in the specific plan area and increase emergency response times and the potential for vehicle traffic accidents.
The Specific Plan establishes develo pment standards and design guidelines that require compliance with Fire Safety and Califo rnia Bu ilding Code. All future projects w ithin the Specific Plan would need to undergo rev iew and approval by the City of Compton’s B uilding and Safety and/or C ommunity Development Departments, as applicable, to receive permits for c onstruction and op eration. The development review process would ensure that development under the Specific Plan would comply with the Fire Prevention and Protection Code, Chapter XXII of the Compton Municipal Code (CMC). Pursuant to the City’s Development Fee Program, individual projects would be required to pay all necessary fees to to offset impacts on fire protection services . Revenue generated from t he Development Fee Program, as well as a percentage of p roperty taxes would go towards improvement and ma intenance of e xisting facilities, construction of new facilities, and the hiring of additional personnel as needed. Therefore, impacts to new or physically altered facilities would be less than significant.
As stated above, all new development in the Speci fic Plan would be evaluated and approved by the City of Compton’s Building and Safety Department and Fire Resources Bureau before rec eiving permits for co nstruction and/or operation. The installation of fire protection systems and automatic sprinkler systems will be required prior to project approval and certification. As discussed in Hazards, Section 3.6 and Transportation, 3.12, construction activities related to the Specific Plan’s development is not expected to resul t in significant impacts to emergency services or response times. Construction activities would not result in the ne ed for expansion of existing fire stations or construction of new fire stations due to the temporary nature of construction.
Operation
The Specific Plan area includes potential development opportunities in t he P lan area over a 2 0-year period. As such, it is not possible to specify the exact location, size, or timing of future de velopment that may contribute to an increase in the need for staf f and/or facilities. As discussed abo ve, with implementation of the proj ect, the number of residents in the S pecific Plan area is projected to grow by approximately 9,236 residents.
Over the 20-year buildout of the project, emergency calls would be expected to incrementally increase.
As the residential population and commerci al development increase in the S pecific Plan area, the City would continue to monitor fire protection resources to ensu re adequate facilities, staffing, and equipment are available. As stated above, the City has a General Plan goal to construct a f ire station on
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the east side of the City. Further, as future projects are built, they would be required to comply with all City codes and regul ations regarding access requirements for commerc ial and residential areas and design standards for fire prevention (e.g., emergency plans and evacuation routes).
The ability of emergency medical service (EMS) and fire protection services to respond to calls in a timely manner depends primarily on the distance of the station to the incident and the speed at which the emergency vehicles are able navigate intervening roadways. While growth anticipated under the Specific Plan would result in higher overall traffic volumes in the Plan area , this would not impede emergency response, since Califor nia State law requires that drivers yield the right -of-way to emergency vehicles and remain stopped until the emergency vehicles have passed. Therefore, EMS and fire protection services response times generally would not change s ubstantially as the populat ion of the Plan area increases.
Uses within the Plan area may include buildings over 75 feet which are considered high -rise under the California Building Code and are subject to specific requ irements regarding materials and features. The California Fire Code include s requirements related to fire department access, fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fire and explosion hazards safety, hazardous materials storage and use, provisions intend ed to protect and assist fire responders, i ndustrial processes, and many other general and specialized fire -safety requirements for new an d existing buildings in the Plan area . T he California Fire Code contains specialized technical regulations related to fire and life safety. All new buildings proposed under the S pecific Plan would be designed to meet minimum fire and emergency safety requirements identified in the California Building Code and California Fire Code and would include appropriate fire safety measures and equipment, including but no t l imited to, use of fire retardant building materials, inclusion of emergency water infrastructure (fire hydrants and sprinkler systems), installation of smoke detecto rs and fire extinguishers, emergency response no tification systems and provision of adequate emergency access ways for emergency vehicles.
High rise structures do require specialized equipment (i.e., taller ladders) for fire suppression. The City of Compton Fire Depar tment is not currently equipped with the ne cessary fire suppression equipmen t.
However, Compton participates in a co dified mutual aid agreement with neighboring cities (Downey, Long Beach, Monteb ello, Santa Fe Springs, Vernon , City of Los Angeles, and adjacent unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County) described in its municipal code. 4 The mutual aid provision state s that the
Compton Fire Chief may dispatch at any time to such other municipality or County district for services,
4 Compton Municipal Code, Section 104.11.3-Mutual Aid, available online at: https://ecode360.com/35617772, accessed on May 5, 2022.
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equipment and personnel of the Compton Fire Department, and may recei ve assistance in combating any or meet ing any condition or emergency which may reasonably fall within the purview of duties or activities ordinarily performed by Compton Fire Departments .5 Moreover, Compton is part of t he Downey Fire Communications Center (DFCC) which provides fire communications and dispatch services to the cities of Compton, Downey, and Santa Fe Springs serving a combined population of 300,000 people that covers an a rea of 40 square miles .6 Therefore, under the mutual aid agreement and the DFCC , the nearest and most ap propriately equipped station would be able to adequately respond to emergency calls.
Although the General Plan includes a policy for a new fire station on the east side of the City, there are no current plans to construct a new fire station or expand existing fire station s, it is foreseeable th at providing fire services to increased population in the Plan area may result in the need for new or expanded fire facilities over the plan horizon. Under the Proposed Plan, the Specific Plan would have growth resulting in approximately 9,236 residents by 2040. These increases would take place over time, and the totals are not anticipated t o be reach ed until 2040 or beyond. The Plan does not constitute a commitment to any project-specific construction.
For CEQA purp oses, the determination of impacts is not based on response times themselves, but response times can be one indi cation of a n eed for new facilitie s that should be cons idered by the City . If new facilities are needed, the primary con cern is if the construct ion of those facilities would have a significant effect on the environment.
Construction of new fire stations or expansion of an existing fire stations to serve the Plan area would occur in an urban area and would be limited in size. Any new facility would also be required to comply with a pplicable federal, State, and local regulations and policies discussed in this EIR, such as NPDES permit requirements, the City’s Noise Ordinance, and the California Building Code, including CALGreen requirements.
Potential environmental impacts of construction and operation of any new facility, as an a llowed land use, have been evaluated th roughout this EIR . Construction and operati onal impacts to air, noise, traffic, as well as other impacts of new developments are discussed throughout this EIR, and they would not be any different for a fire station. It is not foreseeable that impacts fro m building any other station in the
5 S uch other municipality or County fire district shall have made a similar reciprocal agreement to furnish similar services to Compton under like conditions evidenced either by a certified copy of a resolution or ordinance of its legislative body. Ibid at Section 104.11.3-Mutual Aid.
6 City of Downey, Communications, available online at: https://www.downeyca.org/our- city/departments/fire/divisions/communications, accessed on May 5, 2022.
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Plan area would have greater or different impacts than those identified in this EIR for constructi on or operations. Similar to other types of development, the cons truction of new or expanded fire protection facilities could contribute to construction noise impacts identified in Section 4.11, Noise and Vibration , of this EIR and would be subject to applicable mitigation measures.
In a ddition, should new facilities be needed, such facilities would be located on parcels tha t are infill opportunities on lots approximately less than five acres in size. One potential site for a new fire station on the east side of the City could be the City owned parcel on Alameda East and Myrrh Avenue. The site is approximately fiv e acres in s ize and could accommodate a fire station a nd other uses. The site is urbanized and a new facilit y would not involve expansion of the u rban sphere beyo nd current boundaries and, thus, there would be no need for new or expanded infrastructure. For reference, the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering (BOE) determined that the typical standard fire/paramedic statio n would consist of a 15,250- square foot building on a parcel t hat is approximately one acre. Based on the urba n location and the relatively small size of typical facilities, the construction of a new fire facility or expansion of an existing facility would likely qualify for an inf ill exemption or result in less –than- significant impacts with standard co mpliance measures and design features. To the exte nt that any significant impacts could resul t from the unique characteristics of a specific sit e, those impacts would be speculative at this time. Therefore, impacts related to the ne ed for new or expanded fire facilities wo uld be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
3.11.1.4.1 Cumulative Impacts
Buildout of t he p roject and r elated pro jects ongoing and planned in the City , including the Artesia Specific Plan, would increase the demand for fire protection services in the City. The City would continue to monitor impacts to fire services an d facilities and review each future development project on a project- by-project basis t o determine the need for additional resource s. Increased sales tax revenues from lease d commercial spaces on the ground floor of future development s and prop erty tax es from t he related projects could be used to fund increases in staffing and equipment. Furthermore, all future development projects woul d be required to submit site design pla ns to the Cit y during the p lanning and building permit check process. In conformance with standard City procedures, t hese plans shall be review ed by
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the Building and Safety with respect to access and build ing design. Incorporation of such reviews would avoid any significant cumulative impacts to fire resources and services. The potential for new fire facility construction is s peculative at the present time and is, therefore, not analyzed in this document. It is assumed that if new facilities are determined to be necessa ry at some point in the future, such facilities would occur where allowed u nder the designated land use. Therefore, the incremental effect of the Plan with respect to fire protection would not be cumulatively considerable.
3.11.2 LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
3.11.2.1 Environmental Setting
Law enfo rcement p rotection services for the C ity of Compton a re provided by t he Los Ange les County Sheriff’s Department (LA SD) unde r co ntract with t he City. L ASD pr ovides genera l law enforcement services to 42 contract cities, 141 unincorporated communitie s, 216 facilities, hospitals, and clinics loc ated throughout the County, nine (9) community colleg es, the Metropolita n Transit Authority (MTA) and 37 Superior Courts. LASD also provides services such as laborator ies and academy training to smaller law enfo rcement agencies within the County. Additi onally, LASD is responsible in securing approximately 18,000 inmates daily in 7 custody facilities which in cludes providing fo od and me dical treatment. 7 Considering th at there are nearly 10 ,000 sw orn officers Countywide serving three million resi dents, that i s a ratio of 300 resi dents to every officer.
According to the Sheriff ’s Department, Compton Station has a total 1 52 sworn personnel members with a daily deputy deplo yment of 31 deputies per s hift.8 That tran slates to one deputy se rving approximately 3,657 people or an officer to resident ratio of 1.6,9 while working the field during the
7 About Us. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Available online at: https://www.lasd.org/about_us.html, accessed on March 2, 2022.
8 See email from Christopher Zimmerman, Response to Inquiry Officer to Resident Ratio in Compton, March 2, 2022.
9 The Federal Bureau of Investigation has collected statistics on full-time law enforcement employees across the United States. The rate of sworn officers was 2.4 per 1,000 inhabitants in the nation in 2011. The rate of full-time law enforcement employees (civilian and sworn) per 1,000 inhabitants was 3.4. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Full-Time Law Enforcement Employees, 2011. Available online at: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in- the-u.s.-2011/police-employee-
data#:~:text=The%20rate%20of%20full%2Dtime,rate%20among%20city%20population%20groups. S ee also, Ta ble 74, available online at: https://ucr.fbi. gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table_74_full- time_law_enforcement_employees_by_population_group_percent_male_and_female_2011.xls, accessed on A pril 29, 2022
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daily deployment, inclusive of Compton and neighbor ing East Rancho Dominguez and unincorporated Gardena and Rosewood.10
Moreover, Los Angeles Metro oversees the activities of the multi-policing model inclusive of Metro Transit Security Officers and contract security personnel. Metro’s law enforcement model include s the Los Angeles Poli ce De partment, Los Angeles C ounty Sheriff’s Department and Long Bea ch Police Department.11
The local LA SD office is the C ompton Station loc ated at 301 South Willowbrook Avenue, about a quarter mile from the Compton Metro Station. The Compton Station serves the City of Compton, East Ra ncho Dominguez, Unincorporated Gardena, and Rose wood. Figure 3. 11-2, Compton Sheriff Station, shows the location of LACSD office in the Plan Area.
10 Ibid at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Response to Inquiry, March 2, 2022. 11 Security System and Law Enforcement. Metro Los Angeles. Available online at:
https://www.metro.net/about/organization/, accessed on March 2, 2022.
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3.11.2.2 Regulatory Framework
State
All law enforcement agencies within the State of California are organized and operate in accorda nce with the applicable provisions of the Californ ia Penal Code. This code sets f orth the authority, rules of conduct, and trainin g for pe ace o fficers. Under state law, a ll sworn municipal and County officers a re state peace officers.
Local
City of Compton General Plan
The City of Compton General Plan st ates the f ollowing goals a nd policies within its Public Safety Element and Public Facilities Element:
Public Safety Goal 7.0: Decrease crime within Compton to increase the safety of citizens and the imag e of community.
Policy 7.1 Take a proact ive approach to crime prevention by i nitiating youth programs, neighborhood watches, and other community-based approaches to crime prevention
Policy 7.2 Consider methods of coordinating crime prevention activities with other jurisdictions.
Policy 7.3 Seek alternative funded through state and federal sources for incr eased law enforcement services to City residents.
Policy 7.4 Promote land use plann ing urban design, and archit ecture that enhance individual safety. S uch measures include Police Department approved alarm systems, security lighting, lighting of alleys (especially at the rear of comme rcial developments), and bu ilding design s which allo w f or clear visibility of exterior entrances/exits, walkways and parking areas.
Policy 7.5 Prepare and initiate a program to address crime problems associated with alleys including consideration of measures to privatize alleys pave alleys, provide front lot access where po ssible, and provide regular maintenance of alleys.
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Public Facilities Element Goal 1.0: Maintain improved levels of poli ce, fire, and oth er emergency services
Policy 1.1 Periodically evaluate services and service criteria to e nsure the C ity has adequate police, fire, and other emergency services.
Policy 1.2 Pursue state and federal monies to offset the cost of emergency services as available.
Policy 1.3 Assess the impacts of incremental increases in development density and traffic congestion on fire haz ards and emergency response time, and ensure through the design review process , that new d evelopment will not result in reduced emergency services below acceptable levels.
Policy 1.5 Continue to cooperate with t he Los Angeles County She riffs Department, a long with other nearby Police departments, to provid e back-up police assistance in emergency situations.
Policy 1.6 Promote the use of defensible space concepts (site and building lighting, visual observation of open spaces, secured areas, etc.) in project design to enhance public safety.
Policy 1.8: Enhance public awareness and participation in crime preven tion Develop new and expa nd exi sting educational programs dealing with personal safety awareness such as ne ighborhood watch and commerc ial association watch/protection programs.
Conservation/Open Space/Parks and Recreation Element:
Policy 4.11 Continue to locate new police statio ns on t he periphery of public pa rks, and increase police patrols of other parts.
3.11.2.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Thresholds of Significance
The following thres holds fo r determining the significance of impacts related to police services are contained in the environmental checklist form contained in Appendix G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption and/or imple mentation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan could result in significant impacts related to police services, if any of the following would occur:
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• Result i n substantial adv erse physic al impacts associate d with the provision of new or physically altered govern mental facilities, the construction of whic h could cause significant en vironmental impacts, in or der to maintain accepta ble service ratios, response t imes, or other perf ormance objectives for police protection.
Methodology
The need for or deficiency in adequate police services in and of itself is not a CEQA impact, but a social or economic impact. (City of Haywa rd v. B’d of Trustees (2015) 242 Cal.App. 4th 833, 843). To the extent tha t the Proposed Plan causes a need for additional polic e services and that results in the construction of new facilities or additions to existing fac ilities and the impact from that c onstruction results in a potential impact to the environment which is a CEQA impact that needs to be assessed in this EIR. Any discussio n in this EIR that relates solely to the level of police protection services provided to the residents or users of the Specific Plan Area and its sur rounding community, including any existing o r future needs and deficiencies, is for informational purposes only. The ultimate de termination of w hether there is a significant impact related to police protection services is based on whether a significant impact will result from the construction of new or expanded police facilities.
Police protection service needs are dependent on the size of the service population and the geographic area served, the numb er a nd types of calls for serv ice, and the ch aracteristics of a project and its surrounding communit y. Impacts on police protection services are considered significant if the demand for services exceeds t he capacity of existing facilities, or if a station area is located outside of specified distances from a project area.
To the extent that the Specific Plan results in the need for new police s ervices that will cause the need for new or altered police facilities, t he analysis below e valuates the potential need for new facilities and associated potential impacts from the constructio n of new police protecti on facilities or the expansion of existing police protection fa cilities if they could be required. Police protection impacts are als o evaluated for the Proposed Plan within the conte xt o f applicable lo cal policie s and codes describe d in the Regulatory Framework.
This discussion of impacts to police protection services addresses impacts for the Specific Plan Area.
3.11.2.4 Environmental Impacts
PS-2 Would the project result in substant ial adverse phy sical impa cts associated with th e provision of new or ph ysically altered police protection fac ilities, need for new or p hysically altered police protection facilities, the construction
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of which could c ause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintai n acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives? Less than Significant Impact.
Construction
The Specific Plan would allow fo r increased development potential in the Plan area but would not constitute a commitment to any project -specific construction. Site development and construction would not normally re quire s ervices from the S heriff’s Office, except i n the ca ses of trespassi ng, theft, or vandalism. Such activit ies at a construction site occur, but do not typically place undue demands on law enforcement services. Construction activity would increase traffic both on and adja cent to the project site during wo rking hours because co mmuting construction workers , t rucks, an d other large construction vehicles would be added to normal traffic during the buildout period. Slow-moving, construction-related traffic along local roadways m ay reduce o ptimal tra ffic flows a nd could conceivably d elay emergency vehicles or c ontribute to a vehicle accident. However, this potential is considered less than significant given the periodic and t emporary nature of c onstruction-related traffic. Implem entation of standard construction traffic control proc edures, such as the use of fla gmen, and signage showing traffic detour plans, haul routes, hours of operation, protective devices, w arning signs , a nd acc ess to a butting properties would fur ther reduce a ny potential impact. Construction activities for antic ipated development would not result in the need for expansion of existing police facilities or construction of new police facilities due to the temporary nature of construction.
Operation
The Specific Plan would include zone changes that would increase the development potential in the Plan area. The Specific Plan would generate approximately 9,236 new residents (see Section 3.12, Population and Housing). Daytime population could also increase due to additional retail e mployees and patrons within the Plan area.
LASD is responsible for providing police protection s ervices to the Plan area . A significant impact may occur if the LA SD could not adequately serve a project, necessi tating a new or physically altered station. The LASD office is mostly funded through a contract with the City of Compton.
A larger population could increase demand for LA SD services by increasing the opportunities for crime, though an increase in develop ment intensity and residential density would no t nec essarily result in a directly pr oportional increase in crime. An area’s crime rate is influenced by many factors, such as police presence, implementation of crime prevention measures, department funding, a nd
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socioeconomic factors. To ensure that necessary police services, facilities, and equipment are provided for the public safety needs of all neighborhoods, demand for existing and projected police services and faci lities is monitored and forecasted by LA SD in order to maintain standards. Accordingly, as development occurs over the lifetime of the Plan, police protection service levels would continue to be evaluated and maintained by LA SD in accordance with existing policies, procedures and practices.
Individual developments in the Plan area would be requir ed to incorporate design features to deter crime.
The Pla n will redesign Willowbrook Avenue to enable direct access from Rosecrans Av enue to the Commercial Core. Th e Plan will also construct bike lanes on both side s, build raised crossings to connect Compt on Station to the Met ro Plaza, a nd include amenitie s to improve the pedestrian experience. These proposed improvements included in the Specific Plan will be designed to City and State engineering design standards to meet sigh t distance requirements, i ncluding visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists. Growth by 2040 regardless of the Plan is expected to increase population, housing, and jobs within the Plan area which could cause delay on street segments when combined with st reet mo difications as proposed on Willowbrook. However, there is not a direct relationship between predicted travel delay and emergency response times as California State law requires that drivers yield the right of way to emergency vehicles and remain stopped until the emergency vehicles have passed. Designated emergen cy and disaster routes within the Plan a rea would be maintain ed.
Generally, multi -lane arterial roadways allow emergency vehicles to travel at higher speeds and permit other traffic to maneuv er out of the path of the em ergency vehicle. On congested roadway s, multi-lane arterial roadways with continuous center left -turn lanes facilitate emergency access when the thru lanes experience delays. The ability of police protection services to respond to calls in a timely manner depen ds primarily on the distance of responding car to the incident and the speed at which vehicles are able navigate intervening roadways. While development under the P lan would result in higher overall traffic volumes in the P lan area, this would not imp ede police response, since California State law requires that drivers yield the right -of-way to emergency and police vehicles and remain stopped until the vehicles have passed. Therefore, police protection services response times generally would not change substantially as the population of the Plan area increases.
There are no planned police facilities to be constructed in the Plan area at this time. However, the potential for construction or expansion of police facilities over the plan horizon may be possible . Such facilities would more likely be small neighborhood facilities and could be accommodated in existing buildings or small new structures. New facilities would b e required to comply with applicable federal, State, and local regulations and policies discussed in this EIR, such as NPDES permit requirements, the City’s Noise Ordinance, and the California Building Code, including CALGreen
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requirements. Construction of such development would likely not result in new significant impacts and would likely q ualify for infill exemptions. To the extent there are site specific conditions that would result in impacts, such impacts would be speculative at this tim e. To the extent construction would result in any i mpacts those would not be different from other inf ill d evelopment analyzed throughout t he EIR. Therefore, impacts related to the need for new or expanded police protection facilities would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.
Cumulative Impacts
Future needs for police protection are reviewed regularly, including during the budgeting process.
As described above, development projects within the City, including the CPA, would be subject to review upon project sub mittal of the development application and may be required to provide security features, such as security cameras, private security services, and/or on -site police drop -in facilities that reduce the demand for police service.
The proposed Specific Plan and other planned and approved developments throughout the City wou ld cumulatively increase the need for services from the sh eriff’s department. Cumulative projects outside of the Specific Plan area would also increase the need for po lice servi ces a nd would r equire addition al police staffing. Si milar to projec ts proposed under the Specific Plan, development projects located in other areas of the City would be required to submit sit e designs and comply with City regulations. As discussed, there are no planned facilities at thi s time. However, the potential for construction or expansion of new facilities over the plan horizon due to increased growth in the Plan area and surrounding areas is possible . Such facilities would more likely be small neighborhood facilities and could be accommodated in exi sting buildings or small new structur es. Construction of such development would likely not result in new significant impacts and would likely qualify for infill exemptio ns. To the extent there a re site specific conditions that would result in impacts, such impacts would be speculative at this time. Depending on the location of new police stations, if they are determined to be needed, impacts. Based on the above information, impleme ntation of t he Specific Plan and other r elated projects would not result in cumul atively considerable impacts resulting in the need for new or expanded police facilities.
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3.11.3 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
3.11.3.1 Environmental Setting
The City of Compton is served by the Compton Unified School District (CUSD). The CUSD serves nearly 26,000 students at 36 sites in the City of Compton as well as portions of the citie s of C arson and Los Angeles. The CUSD i ncludes 21 elementary schools, seven middle schools, f our high s chools, and four adult/alternative schools. No schools are loc ated within the Plan area; however, the schools closest to the Plan area are shown in Figure 3.11-3, Public Schools Near Specific Plan Area, and are as follows:
• Rosecrans Elementary School (Grades K-8) at 1301 N Acacia Avenue, west of the Plan Area • Dickison Elementary School (Grades K-8) at 905 N Aranbe Avenue, northwest of the Plan Area • Benjamin O. Davis Middle School (Grades PK-7) at 621 W Poplar Street, northwest of the Plan Area • Compton High School (Grades 9-12) at 601 South Acacia Street, south of the Plan Area • Lifeline Education Charter School (Grades K-12) at 225 South Santa Fe Avenue, east of the Plan Area
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As shown in Table 3.11-1, Enrollment and Ca pacity of Compton Unified Scho ols Serving the Specific Plan Area (School Year 2021-2022), none of the schools within the Plan area are currently overcrowded.
Table 3.11-1
Enrollment and Capacity of Compton Unified Schools Serving the Specific Plan Area (School Year 2021-2022)
School Name Capacity
Actual
Enrollment
Current Seating
Overage/
(Shortage)
Overcrowded?
Rosecrans Elementary School 2,252 497 1755 No
Dickison Elementary School 2,896 675 2,221 No
Benjamin O. Davis Middle School 3,903 432 3,471 No
Compton High School 2,749 1,243 1,506 No
Lifeline Education Charter School 1,000 700 300 No
Source: Compton Unified School District, 2022.
As discussed in the Regulatory Framework, the Sch ool Facilities Act (Government Code Section 65995) was enacted to a llow s chool districts t o assess developer fees to help cover the cost of constructing or reconstructing school facilities necessary to accommodate increases in student population. It also set out to limit the amount that local agencies could require of developers to mitigate the impact of development on school facilities. Current developer fees a re calculated at the rate of $4.08 per square foot of assessable space for residential construction, and $0.66 for commercial/industrial development.12 Additional me chanisms available to s chool districts t o fund s chool construction i nclude com munity assessment d istricts and gene ral ob ligation bonds. C USD has an ac tive bond for f unding necessar y improvements.
12 Compton Unified School District. Developer Fees 2021. Available online at:
https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/departments/business-services/facilities/developer-fees-2021, accessed on February 8, 2022.
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3.11.3.2 Regulatory Framework
State
California Government Code Section 65995
California Government Code Sec tion 65995 is found in Title 7, Chapter 4.9 of the California Government Code. California Government Code Sec tion 65995 auth orizes school districts to collect impact fees from developers of n ew residential and commercial/in dustrial building space. Senate B ill 50 (SB 50) amended Government Code Section 65995 in 1998. Under the provisions of SB 50 schools can colle ct fees to offs et costs associated with increasing school capacity as a r esult of develo pment. The local school districts determine fees in accord ance w ith Californi a Government Cod e Section 65995 which can be ad justed every two y ears. Th e maxi mum fee s a uthorized under S B 50 appl y to zone chang es, general plan amendments, zoning permi ts and subdivisions. The provisions of SB 50 are deemed to provide full and complete mitigation o f s chool facilities impacts, notwithstanding any con trary pro visions in CE QA or other State or local laws.
California Education Code
School facilities and services are subject to the rules and regulations of the California Education Code and governance of the State Board of Education (S BE). The S BE is th e 11 -member gov erning and policymaking body of the California Depa rtment of Education (CDE ) that sets K –12 education policy in the areas of standards, instruction al materia ls, assessment, and accountability. The CDE and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction are responsible for enforcing education law and regulations; and for continuing to reform and improve public elementary school, secondary school, and c hildcare programs, as well as adult education and some preschool programs. T he CDE’s m ission i s to provide le adership, assistance, oversight, and resources so that every Californian has access to an education that meets world- class standards. The core purp ose of the CDE i s to lead and support the con tinuous improvement of student achievement, with a specific focus on closing achievement gaps.
California Department of Education
The CDE is the governme nt agency responsible for public educ ation throughout the s tate.
The department oversees funding, an d s tudent testing and achievement levels for all sta te s chools.
A sector of t he CDE, the Cali fornia State Board of Edu cation is the governing an d policy mak ing sector responsible for education policies regarding st andards, i nstructional materi als, assessme nt, and accountability.
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Class Size Reduction Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 1998 Proposition 1A, the Class Size Reduction Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond A ct of 1998 (Ed. Code, §§ 100400 –100405) is a school construction funding mea sure that was appr oved by the voters on the November 3, 1998 ballot. The Act created the School Facility Pro gram where eligible school districts may obtain state bond funds.
Leroy Greene School Facilities Act of 1998/ Senate Bill 50 The Leroy Greene School Facilities Act of 1998, or Senate Bill 50 (SB 50) (Ed. Code, §§ 17070.10-17079.30), eliminated the ability of cities and cou nties to require full mitigation of school impacts and replaced i t with the ability for school di stricts to assess fees directly to offset th e costs associate d with increasing school capacity as a result of new development. The Act states that payment of developer fees is “deemed to be complete a nd full mitiga tion” of t he imp acts of new d evelopment. C urrent developer fees a re calculated at the rate of $4.08 per square foot of assessable space for residential construction, and $0.66 for commercial/industrial development.13
Additional me chanisms available to school districts to fund s chool construction includ e com munity assessment districts and gene ral obl igation b onds. CUSD has a n a ctive bond for f unding necessary improvements.
Local
The City of Compton General Plan states the following goals and policies within its Public Facilities Element:
Public Facilities Goal 2.0: Provide opportunities for a quality education to all residents.
Policy 2.1 Encourage th e Compton Unified School District to provide improved services to an ethnically diverse City.
Policy 2.2 Cooperate with the Compton Unified School District when it expands or upgrades existing educational facilities.
13 Compton Unified School District. Developer Fees 2021. Available online at:
https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/departments/business-services/facilities/developer-fees-2021, accessed on February 8, 2022.
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Policy 2.3 Coordinate with the Compton United School District in the development and utilization of joint school/park facilities.
Policy 2.4 Encourage school district employees to live in Compton.
3.11.3.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Thresholds of Significance
The following thresholds fo r determining the significan ce of impacts rel ated to pu blic schools are contained in the environmental checklist form contained in Appendix G of the most recent update of the CEQA G uidelines. Adoption an d/or implement ation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan could result in significant impacts due to the use of school services, if any of the following would occur:
• Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provis ion of new or ph ysically altered gov ernmental facilities, need for new o r physically altered government al facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for schools.
Methodology
In Goleta Union Sch. Dist. v Regents of Uni v. of Cal. (1995) 37 CA 4th 1025, the co urt held that school overcrowding i s a social impact and does not require analysis in an EI R and mitigatio n, unless the overcrowding is linked to physical environmental effects (such as new school construction).
However, the law is somewhat unclear on how to analyze impacts f rom school fac ilities. The treatise, CEB, Practice under CEQA, provides the following discussion on impacts to schools:
State and local agencies may not deny either legislative or adjudicative ap provals on the basis of a refusal to pay fees in excess of those limits. Govt C §65995.
The statutes also significantly limit the a pplication of CEQA to school facilities impact issues. The fees set forth in Govt C §65996 constitute the exclusive me ans of both "cons idering" and "mitigating"school facilities impacts of projects. Govt C §5996(a).
Because the statute states that the sta tutory fees are the exc lusive m eans of considering, as well a s mitigating, school impacts, it limits not only the mitigation that may b e required but also the scope of impact review in the EIR and the findings for school impacts. In Chawanakee Unified Sch. Dist. v Count y of Madera (2011) 196 CA 4th 1016, the court held that because the metho ds in the statute are the excl usive
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means of "considering" impacts on s chools, a n EIR need not desc ribe and anal yze a development's impacts on schools .14 Consistent with this view:
• Once the statutory fee is imposed, the impact should be determined to be mi tigated because of the provision that the statutory fees constitute full and complete mitigation ( Government Code Section 65995(b)); and
• It should not be necessary t o adopt a statement of overrid ing con siderations for school facilities impacts w hen the statutory f ee is assesse d, b ecause the impact is deemed as a matter of law to be adequately mitigated (Government Code Section 65995(b)).
The Chawanakee court also ruled that th e reach of t he statute is limited to impacts "on" schools and does not extend to impact s on the nonschoo l physical envir onment, e ven though they may be "rel ated" to schools in some way. The imp lications of this ruling are uncer tain, however, because the c ourt did not consider the effect of Govt C §65995(b), which states th at the statute provides full sc hool facilities mitigation notwithstanding CEQA, or of Govt C §65995(c), which defines a schoo l facility as "any school- related consideration relating to a school district's ability to accommodate enrollment." Based on the above, and the uncertaint y created by the Chawanakee d ecision r elated to impacts to non- school property, from the constr uction of school facilities, for purposes of this EIR, an impact on s chools would occur if the Proposed Plan promotes growth patterns resulting in the need for and/or the provision of new or physically altered public school facilities (including charter sc hools), the construction of which would c ause sign ificant environment al impacts in order to maintain service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives. To the e xtent that the Proposed P lan causes impacts to classroom sizes or school service impacts that results in the construction of new fac ilities or alterati ons to existing f acilities and the impact from that construction resu lts in a potential impa ct to th e environment, that i s a CEQA impact that needs to be ass essed in this EIR. Any discussion in this EIR t hat relates solely to the level o f school services provided to the residents of the Specific Plan Area, including any existing or future needs and defic iencies, is for infor mational purposes only. The ultimate determination of whether ther e is a significant impact related to scho ols is based on whether a si gnificant imp act will result from the construction of new or expanded school facilities to non-school property.
The discu ssion of impacts to public schools a ddresses impacts for the entire Plan Area. Public school service needs are depen dent on the size of the service population and the geographic area served. This analysis estimates the number o f studen ts th at would be gene rated by r easonably anticipated development with the Proposed Plan using Compton Unified School District (C USD) student generation
14 Casetext. Chawanakee Unified School District v. County of Madera. 2011. https://casetext.com/case/chawanakee- unified-sch-dist-v-cty-of-madera/?PHONE_NUMBER_GROUP=P.
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rates and assesses whether existing and planned CU SD school facilities ex pected to serve the Plan Area would ha ve sufficient available capacity to accommodate th e students. If there would not be sufficient available capacity, the EI R will consider whether new s chool facilities will be needed and if foreseeable, whether the construction of the school facilities will result in a significant impact.
3.11.3.4 Environ mental Impacts
PS-3 Would the project result in substantial adverse ph ysical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered scho ol facilities, need for new or physically a ltered scho ol f acilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to m aintain ac ceptable se rvice ratios, response times or other performance objectives of the school district? Less Than Significant Impact.
Construction
Construction activities associa ted wit h build out of the Sp ecific Plan would not impact C USD school facilities as construction activities would not directly increase the student population. Thus, no impacts to the existing educational facilities would occur.
Operation
The Plan area is located within the boundaries of the CUSD. A significant impact would occ ur if the Plan would include substantial employment or population growth, which could generate a demand for school facilities that would e xceed the capacity of the school district. The Plan would result in a ne t increase of 2,178 residential units, or approximately 9,236 persons, by 2040 wh ich has the pote ntial to in crease enrollment at schools that serve the area.
It is reasonable to assume that a portion of t he 9,236 residents would include schoo l aged childr en. The student generation factor identifies the number of students per h ousing unit and provides a link bet ween residential construction projects and projections of enrollment. The State-wide factor used by the Office of Public School Co nstruction is 0. 44 for gra des K- 12.15 Based o n the these metrics, student generation factors for the addition of 2,178 residential units would result in an additional 501 e lementary school
15 Los Angeles Unified School District, 2020 Developer Fee Justification Study, March 2020. Available online at:
https://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/921/LAUSD%20Dev%20Fee%20Study%202020 _Final.pdf, accessed on March 1 6, 2022.
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students at .23 st udent per household, 131 junior high school students at .06 student per household, and 283 high school students at .13 student per household ; a tota l of 915 students.16 As discussed above all schools withi n CUSD are op erating well below design capacity. Addition ally, buildo ut of the Specific Plan would occ ur ov er a 20-year period, th us the projected student growth would be gradual. As students may attend any District school with avai lable capacity, the proj ected number of students would not result in the District’s school operating above design capacity, and thus project related impacts would be less than significant
Further, development of individual p rojects under the Specific P lan would be subject to Cali fornia Government Code Section 65995, which would allow CUSD to collect impact fees from developers of new residential and commercial space. Conformance to California Government Code Section 65995 is deemed to provide full and c omplete mitigation of impacts to school facilities. Therefore, the Plan would result in a less than significant impact to public schools.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Cumulative Impacts
The Proposed Plan along with cumulative p rojects from other plans (su ch as the Art esia Specific Plan) would increase student e nrollment pos sibly causing th e need for new o r ex panded facilit ies, the construction of which could result in significant adverse impact s. However, such impacts would be dependent on s ite-specific co nditions that are too speculative to determine without si te-specific information. The payment of school fe es in complian ce with th e California Government Code Section 65995 is considered full m itigation for school impacts; there fore, the cumulative impact o f past, pres ent, and future development wo uld be less than significant. Appropriate school fees would be paid for future development. CUSD’s Facilities Division monitors growth and school capa city an d determines future school needs. Depending on the locat ion of new sc hools, if they are determin ed to be needed, construction and operational impacts (such as traffic, noise, a nd lightin g) could occ ur and would be generally consistent with other allowed de velopment analyzed in this E IR. H owever, impacts related to specific locations would be specula tive at this time . Therefore, the proposed Pl an would not make a cumulatively co nsiderable contribution to impacts related to school capacity and new sc hool construction. Impacts would be less than significant.
16 See also Table 3 of 2020 Developer Fee Justification Study, March 2020.
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3.11.4 LIBRARIES
3.11.4.1 Environmental Setting
The City of Compton, incl uding the Plan Area, is served by the Los Ange les C ounty Pub lic Library System (LA County Library). LA County Library is funded under the jurisdiction of the C ounty Board of Supervisors, which is a 20- member Library Commission that acts as an a dvisory board to the LA County Library. The L A Cou nty Libr ary is f inanced primarily by a d edicated share of p roperty tax from the service area, with other revenues including a general fund contribution, a parcel tax, grants, and fees. The LA County Library includes 85 regional and communi ty libraries, two institutional libraries a nd three bookmobiles, and serves a population of 3,373,360.17
The Compton Library, located at 240 West Compton Boulevard, opened in 1913 and is less than a quarter mile south of the Plan Area. The Compton Library featur es amenities for childre n, teens, and adults in both English and Spanish. The Compton Librar y offers a photocopier, research assistance, live homework help, publ ic computers, ch ildren’s computers, early literacy computers, a nd LA County Law L ibrary resources. Other l ibraries located near t he Plan Area offering similar a menities include: East Ranc ho Dominguez Library located approxi mately two miles east of Co mpton Station in unincorporated Los Angeles County; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library l ocated approximately three miles southwest of the Plan Area in Carson; and Paramount Library located three and a half miles east of the Plan Area.
There are no current pla ns for the co nstruction of new library facilities or expa nsion of exi sting lib rary facilities near the Specific Plan Area.18 As described in Table 3.11-2 of Public Libraries Serving Compton Specific Plan Area, the City of Compton provides 0.46 volumes per person and 0.21 square feet per person as well, for a collection size of 44,355 and a building size of 20,542 square feet.
17 Los Angeles County Public Libraries
18 County of Los Angeles Public Libraries. Available online at: https://lacountylibrary.org/.
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Table 3.11-2
Public Libraries Serving Compton Specific Plan Area
Library / Address Collection
Size
Building
Size
(Square
Feet)
Population
Served
(Persons)
Square
Feet per
Person
Volumes
per Person
Compton Public Library
240 W Compton Blvd
Compton, CA 90220
44,355 20,542 95,740 .21 .46
East Rancho Dominguez Library
4420 East Rose Street
East Rancho Dominguez, 90221
22,841 7,215 15,114 .47 1.5
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
17906 Avalon Boulevard
Carson, CA 90746
14,701 5,024 95,558 .05 .15
Paramount Library
16253 Colorado Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
36,711 8,750 53,733 .16 .68
Source:
Lo s Ang eles County Public Libraries; US Census Bureau; Impact Sciences, 2022. Available online at: https://lacountylibrary.org/
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FIGURE 3.11-5
1335.001•02/22
SOURCE: Esri 2022, County of Los Angeles 2022
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3.11.4.2 Regulatory Framework
Regional
Los Angeles County Municipal Code
Chapter 22.246.060 of the Los Ang eles M unicipal Code is meant to mitigate a ny significant adver se impacts of increased residenti al development upon public library facilities as required by the CEQA and outlines the County ’s Library Facilities Mitigation Fee .19 Table 22.246.060A is the facilities mitigation fee per dwellin g unit as described by planni ng are a. Planning Area 5 – Southeast – would entai l $970 per planning unit.
Local
City of Compton General Plan
The City of Compton General Plan states the follow ing goals and pol icies within its Public Facilities Element related to library services:
Goal 3.0: Cooperate w ith the Cou nty of Los A ngeles in maintaining adequ ate li brary facilities to serve City residents.
Policy 3.1 Identify library service needs for the City.
Policy 3.2 Encourage serv ices oriented to the ethnic populati ons who live in Compton.
3.11.4.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Thresholds of Significance
The following thresholds for determining the significance of impacts relate d to public library facilities are contained in the environmental checklist form contained in Appe ndix G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption a nd/or implementation of the Compton T OD Specif ic Plan could result in significant impacts due to the use of library services, if any of the following would occur:
19 Los Angeles Municipal Code, Section 22.246.060 - Library Facilities Mitigation Fee. Available online at:
https://library.municode.com/ca/los_angeles_county/codes/code_of_ordinances/354460?nodeId=TIT22PLZO_DI V9AD_CH22.246ADRE_22.246.060LIFAMIFE, accessed on M arch 16, 2022.
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• Result in su bstantial adverse physical impacts associate d with the provision of new or physically altered library facilities, need for new or physically altered library facilities, the construction of which could cause significant envir onmental impac ts, in order to ma intain ac ceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives.
3.11.4.3.2 Methodology
The f ollowing analysis focu ses on de termining whether the Propos ed Plan would result in adverse physical impacts to the environment d ue to the e xpansion or construct ion of new library facilities.
Whether additional facilities would be required is dete rmined primarily by considering the adequacy of existing library serv ices, imp acts of the Proposed Plan on demand for library services, an d input provided by LAPL staff.
The need for or deficiency in ad equate library facilities to serve the residents or us ers of the Specific Plan Area is not in a nd of it self a CEQA impact, but a soc ial or economic impact. ( City of Hayward v. B’d of Trustees (2015) 242 Cal.App . 4th 833, 843). To the extent t hat the Prop osed Plan caus es a need for additional recreational or l ibrary ser vices an d facilities a nd that r esults in the construction of new facilities or additions to existing facilities and the impact f rom that construct ion resu lts in a pot ential impact to the environment, that is a CEQA impact that needs to be assessed in this EIR. Additionally, the deterioration of existing libraries caused b y th e Pr oposed Plan is a CEQA impact that needs to be assessed in the EIR. Any discussion in this EIR that relates solely to the level of library services provided to the residents or users of the Specific Plan Area and its surrounding community, including any existing or future needs and deficiencies, is for infor mational purposes only. The ultimate d etermination of whether there is a significant impact related to library services is based on whether a signific ant impact will result from the construction of new or altered library facilities as a result of the implementation of the Proposed Plan.
This analysis estimates the n umber of residents that w ould be generated by implementat ion of the Proposed Plan and assesses whether existing and planned public libraries expected to serve the Plan Area would have sufficien t av ailable capacity to accommodat e additional use rs and whethe r n ew facilitie s would need to be constructed, the construction of which would cause significant environmental impacts.
3.11.4.4 Environmental Impacts
PS-4 Would the project result in su bstantial adve rse ph ysical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered library facilities, need for new or physically altered library faci lities, the construction of which could ca use
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significant envir onmental impacts, in order to ma intain accepta ble se rvice ratios, response times or other performance objectives? Less than Significant.
A significant impact would o ccur if t he Plan would result in substantial employment or population growth that could generate a demand for other public f acilities, including librarie s, which exceed the capacity availab le t o serve the Plan area , necessitating new or physically altered public fa cilities, the construction of which would cause significant environmental impacts.
The need for public l ibrary services is generally calc ulated based o n per manent popu lation in a give n area. The City of C ompton has one library to ser ve its curren t population of 95, 740 people, and t he proposed Specific Plan would result in an increase of approximately 9,236 people over its lifetime to 2040.
That would reduce the existing volumes per person ratio from .46 to .42 and the square f oot per perso n from .21 to .20. However, the proposed Specific Plan encompasses approximately half a mile aro und the Compton Metro Station , which is less than a quarter mile north of the Compton Public Library and two miles west of the East Rancho Dominguez Librar y. Dr. Martin Luther K ing, Jr. Library is located approximately three miles southwest of t he Plan area in Carson and Paramount Li brary is located three and a ha lf miles east of the Plan area. Therefore, although implementation of the Specific Plan has the potential to increase demand for library services and resources of the Los Angeles County Public Library System over its lifetime, there are other libraries nearby to accommodate Compton’s incremental growth.
That noted, the Specific Plan does contain a vision for a new library/cultural center/ museum with a hotel serving as an attraction for local, regional, national, and /or international tour ism and a m arked gateway to the Compton Walk. It also has a direct provision of a library, communit y meeting room or other space which is open for public u se and gath erings without charge and is of at least 500 square feet in size as part of a public benef its con cession menu . Therefore, w hile the propose d use can hav e t he potential to increase demand for library services and resources of the Los Angeles Coun ty Public Library System, the increase wil l not b e subst antial over the course of 20 years. The Specific Plan has goals and p olicies t o encourage community interaction and engagement that would offset impact to library facilities. Finally, there are other public libraries near the Plan area available to c ommunity residents. Due to the proposed uses availa ble to the public, the Specific Plan would not cr eate s ubstantial capacity or service level problems that w ould require the provision of new or expanded pu blic facilities in order t o maintain an acceptable level of service for libraries and other public facilities. Therefore, the Specific Plan would result in a less than significant impact on other public facilities.
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Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.
Cumulative Impacts
Growth under the Specific Plan would increase the pop ulation of the Plan Area incrementally over the next 20 years by 9,236 persons, which would increase use of the LA Count y Library system. In addition to the Compton Public Library, the LA County Library system has the following additi onal branch libraries that service the residents of the City of Compton and surrounding communities:
• East Rancho Dominguez Library – 4420 East Rose Street, East Rancho Dominguez • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library – 17906 Avalon Boulevard, Carson • Paramount Library – 16253 Colorado Avenue, Paramount
The libraries listed above would also serve new residents generated by impl ementation of the Specific Plan and other projects in the Cit y. In ad dition, the trend toward libraries pr oviding in creased electronic and downloadable library resources (e.g., e-books, audio books) could reduce the need fo r additional physical library resources in the future. Additionally, as is the case with th e proposed Plan, any future res idential projects would be required to pay the County’s Library Facilities Mitigation Fee pursuant to Chapter 22.246.060 of the L os Ang eles Count y M unicipal Code, which would mitigate potential impacts of increased residential developme nt on libr ary se rvices. Therefore, the Specific Plan’s contribution to cumulative i mpacts associated with libraries would not be cumulatively considerable and would be less than significant.
3.11.5 PARKS AND RECREATION
3.11.5.1 Environmental Setting
In the St ate of California, the prim ary avenue by which local ju risdictions set parkland and re creation standards and requirements fo r new devel opment or obtain funds for the d evelopment of parks and recreation, is via the Quimby Act. The Quim by Act was established by the California Legislature in 1965 in response to Californ ia’s increased rate of u rbanization and the need to prese rve o pen space a nd parkland for growing communities. Prior to subdividin g a parcel of land, the developer must dedi cate a portion of land and/or pay a fe e for the p urpose of providing park and recrea tional facilitie s to ser ve future residents of the property being subdivided.
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The City o f Compton has 1 9 parks and recreation faci lities that provide approximately 76 .32 a cres of parkland and recreation space for the com munity. In addition to t he parkland, the Compton Creek bike path prov ides abo ut fiv e miles of bik ing and wa lking p aths alon gside the C ompton Creek. The CUSD contributes playing fields and facilities to the City’s p opulation f or t he use of fields and recrea tional activities. The only park within the Plan Area is Wilson Park located less than a ten-minute walk from the Compton Me tro Station, accessible via East Palmer St reet. Wilson Park provides amenities su ch as a community ba nquet room, recreation rooms , o utdoor picnic area, and a multipurpos e field including outdoor fitnes s equipme nt. T here are two city parks – Walter Tucker P ark and Raymond Street P ark – situated across from Compton Creek which runs to the southwe st of the Plan Area. Walter Tucker Park is nearly five acres and consists of a multipurpose field and recreation meeting rooms, while Raymond Street Park is two and a half acre children’s playground.
There are two regional parks located within a five -mile radius from the Plan Area . Hollydale Re gional Park is located appro ximately three miles to the nor theast of the Plan Area in South Gate and serves as a local recreation spot with athletic fields, basketball and tennis courts. It is accessible via the 125 bus east and then walking approxim ately a mile north. Victoria Community Regional Park is a 36- acre recreation area featuring a gym, heated pool, cricket fields, and 18-hole golf course. It is located appro ximately four miles southwest of the Plan Area. It is accessible via the Metro A Line south to Artesia then either the 6 or 15 bus west.
The National Recreation and Par ks Associat ion recommends five a cres of parkla nd for every 1,000 residents. However, the Quimby Ordinance en able cities in California wi th standards of three acres per 1,000 resi dents to assess new developments an i mpact fee for park dev elopment. Given that the City’s population i s app roximately 95,740 residents in 2020 , that would mean the C ity needs to provide 287 acres of park space per the Quimby Act. However, as noted the Cit y only has 7 6 acres of parkland available; therefore, the City is experiencing a park deficit.
Table 3.11-3
Public Parks and Recreational Facilities Located in the City of Compton
Name Location Facilities Park
Acreage
Ellerman Park 400 Block West Bennett
Street
Kids and toddler playground,
multipurpose field
1.8 Fig/Oleander Park Fig Street and Oleander
Avenue
Children’s playground apparatus 0.8
Oaks Park 1812 N. Santa Fe Kids and toddler playground, multipurpose field, outdoor basketball
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Name Location Facilities Park
Acreage
court
Raymond Street Park 400 Block West
Raymond Street
Kids and toddler playground, baseball
diamond
2.5 Sibrie Park 1300 West El Segundo Kids and toddler playground, baseball diamond, multipurpose field
3.8 South Park Chester and Caldwell Baseball diamond and multipurpose field
4.83 Tragniew Park 2121 West Alondra
Boulevard
Outdoor basketball court, multipurpose
field, tennis courts, kids and toddler
playground
4.5 Walter Tucker Park 650 West Laurel Street Kids and toddler playground, multipurpose field, recreation meeting
rooms
4.9 Sibrie Park 1300 West El Segundo Kids and toddler playground, baseball diamond, multipurpose field
3.8 South Park Chester and Caldwell Baseball diamond and multipurpose field
4.83 Tragniew park 2121 West Alondra Blvd Outdoor basketball court, multipurpose field, tennis courts, kids and toddler
playground
4.5 Walter Tucker Park 650 West Laurel Street Kids and toddler playground, multipurpose field, recreation meeting
rooms
4.9 Burrell-MacDonald Park 2516 West Alondra
Boulevard
Community banquet room with stage,
recreation rooms, outdoor basketball
court, children’s playground,
multipurpose field, outdoor exercise
equipment
5.0 The Compton Par 3 Golf Course 6400 East Compton
Boulevard
Golf course ---
Douglas F. Dollarhide
Community Center
301 N. Tamarind Avenue Banquet hall, conference room, meeting rooms, fitness gym, computer lab,
recreation and media room
---
Gonzales Park and Aquatic
Center
1101 West Cressy Street Aquatic center, training facility, outdoor fitness equipment, stadium,
recreation rooms, community banquet
room, children’s playground
14.06 Kelly Park 2319 East Caldwell Street Community banquet room with stage, baseball diamond, multipurpose field,
recreation rooms, outdoor
3.8 Lueders Park and William Love
Swimming Pool
1500 East Rosecrans
Avenue
Community banquet room,
gymnasium, outdoor fitness
equipment, multipurpose field, aquatic
center, children’s playground,
recreation rooms, gazebo picnic area
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Name Location Facilities Park
Acreage
Wilson Park 123 N. Rose Street Community banquet room with stage, picnic area, multipurpose field, outdoor
basketball court, recreation rooms,
gym, skate park, children’s
playground, outdoor fitness equipment
3.9 Total Parkland 76.32
Source: City of Compton Recreation Facilities. Available online at: http://www.comptoncity.org/depts/parks/facilities/default.asp, 2021
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Parks in Compton
FIGURE 3.11-4
1335.001•02/22
SOURCE: Esri 2022, County of Los Angeles 2022
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3.11.5.2 Regulatory Framework
State
Quimby Act of 1965
The Qui mby Act was estab lished by the California State Legislature in 1965 an d codified as California Government Code S ection 66477. T he Q uimby A ct a llows the legislative bod y of a city or county, by ordinance, to require the de dication of land or impose a requir ement of the payment of fees i n lieu thereof, or a combinat ion of both, for park or recreational purposes as a c ondition to the approval of a tentative tract map or pa rcel map. Under the Quimby Act, requirements for parkland dedications are not to exceed t hree acres of parkland per 1,0 00 perso ns residing within a subd ivision, and in- lieu fee payments shall not exceed the proportionate amount necessary to provide three a cres of parkland, unless the amount of existing neighborhood and community parkland exceeds that limit.
California Public Park Preservation Act of 1971
The primary instrument for protecting and preserving parkland is the State Public Park Preservation Act of 1971 (Pub. Resou rces Code, §§ 5400–5409). Under the Act, cities and counties may not acqu ire any real property that is in use as a public park fo r any non-park use unless compensation or land, or b oth, are provided to replace the parkland acquired. This provides no net loss of parkland and facilities.
State Open Space Standards
State planning law (Government Code Sectio n 65560) provides a structure for the preservation of open space by requiring every city and county in the State to prepare, adopt, and submit to the Secretary of the Resources Agency a “local ope n-space plan for the comprehe nsive and long -range preservati on and conservation of open s pace land w ithin its j urisdiction.” The following op en space categor ies are identified for preservation:
• Open space for public heal th an d s afety, including, but not li mited to, areas that require spec ial management or regulation due to hazardous or special conditions. • Open spac e f or the pres ervation of natu ral resources , including, but not limited to, natural vegetation, fish and wildlife, and water resources.
• Open spac e f or resourc e management and production, including, but not limited to, agricultural and mineral resources, forests, rangeland, and areas required for the recharge of groundwater basins.
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• Open spac e for outdoor recre ation, including, but not lim ited to, pa rks and recreational facilities, areas that serve as links b etween m ajor recreation and o pen space r eservations (such as trai ls, easements, and scenic roadways), and areas of outstanding scenic and cultural value. • Open s pace for the protection o f Nat ive Am erican sites, including, but not limited to, places, features, and objects of historical, cultural, or sacred significance such as Native American sanctified cemeteries, p laces of worship, religiou s or ceremonial sit es, or sa cred shrines located on p ublic property (further defined in California Public Resources Code Sections 5097.9 and 5097.993).
Mitigation Fee Act
The California Mitigation Fee Act, Government Code sections 66000, et seq., allows cities to establish f ees to be imposed on development p rojects f or the pur pose of mitigating t he impact of d evelopment on a city’s ability to provide spec ified public facilities. In orde r to comply with the Mitigation Fee Act a C ity must follow the following primary requirements: (1) Make certain determinations regarding the purpose and use of a fee and establish a nexus or connection between a development project or class of project and the public improvement being financed with the fee; (2) Segregate fee revenue from the Gene ral Fund in order to avoid comming ling of capital facilities fees and general funds; (3 ) For fees th at have been in the possession of a City for five years or more and for which the dollars have not been spent or committed to a project, the City must make findings each fiscal year.
Local
City of Compton General Plan
The Ci ty o f Compton General Plan stat es the f ollowing goals and po licies with in its Conservation/Open Space/ Parks and Recreation Element and Land U se Element related to Park s and Open Space:
Conservation Element Goal 4.0: Develop anil maintain a balanced system of open space, public parks, and recreational facilities.
Policy 4.1 Provide active and passive park and recrea tional facilities, based o n the distribution of population within the City, to serve the needs of residents of all ages, economic levels, and physical conditions.
Policy 4.2 Update the Ci ty’s Quimby Ord inance, and increase the required dedication or in-lieu fee to 3.0 acres per thousand persons.
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Policy 4.3 Upgrade existing park facilities to improve park use and appearance.
Policy 4.4 Create op portunities for joint use of pu blic facilities for recreatio nal purposes, suc h a s sc hools, u tility easements, an d abandoned ra ilroad rights-of-way.
Policy 4.5 Pursue opportunities for the cr eation of additional open space and parkland whenever available.
Policy 4.6 Actively pursue all available sources of financing f or park land acquisition and maintenance.
Policy 4.7 Encourage t he develop ment of common and priva te ope n space and recreational fac ilities within multi- family dev elopments to increase recreational opportunities.
Policy 4.8 Develop and maintain a publ ic p arkland master p lan w hich ide ntifies City open space and recreational needs
Policy 4.9 Increase access 10 all City open sp aces and recreational areas, inclu ding for the disabled and those who depend on public transit Policy 4.10 Coordinate local open space development with regional ope n s pace opportunities to satisfy a wide range of recreational demands.
Policy 4.11 Continue to locate new police stations on the periphery of p ublic parks, and increase police patrols of other parts.
Land Use Goal 2.0: Maintain a balanced and diversified distribution of land use in Compton.
Policy 2.7 Provide su fficient par t l and a nd open spa ce r esources to meet the community’s diverse needs.
3.11.5.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Thresholds of Significance
The following thresholds for determining the sign ificance of impacts related to hazards and hazardous materials are containe d in the environmental checklist form co ntained in Appendix G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption and/or imple mentation of the Compton TOD Spe cific Plan
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could result in signific ant impacts due to the use of recreational facilities, if any of the following would occur:
• Result in substan tial adverse physical impacts associated with t he provi sion of new or physic ally altered government al facilities, n eed for new or physically alt ered gove rnmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environm ental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance o bjectives for parks. (This threshold is addressed within the two thresholds below)
• Increase the use of exist ing neighborhood and regional parks or other rec reational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated. • Include recreational facilities or requ ire the con struction or e xpansion of recreational facili ties which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment.
Methodology
The need for or deficiency in adequ ate park and recreation facilities to serve the residents or users of the Specific Plan or the City is not in and of itself a CEQ A impact, but a soc ial or economic impact. (City of Hayward v. B’d of Trustees (2015) 2 42 Cal.App. 4th 833, 843). To the extent that the Proposed Plan c auses a need for additional recreational services and facilities and that results in the construction of new facilities or additions to existing facilities and the impact from that construction results in a potential impact to the environment, that is a CE QA impact that needs to be assessed in this EIR. Additionally, the deterioration of existing recreational facilities and pa rks caused by the Proposed Plan is a CEQ A impact that needs to be assessed in the EIR. Any discussion in this EIR that relates solely to the level of park services provided to the r esidents or u sers of the S pecific Plan and its surrounding community, inclu ding any exist ing or future needs and deficiencies, is for informational purposes only. The ultimate determi nation of whether there i s a signifi cant impact related t o p ark and recreational services is based on whether a significant impact will result from the constructi on of new or al tered park and recreational facilities or where existing park and recreational facilit ies will be substa ntially physically de teriorated as a result of t he implementation of the Proposed Plan.
This analysis estimates the number of residents t hat would be ge nerated by implementation of the Proposed Plan and ass esses whether existing an d planned public parks and recreatio nal f acilities expected to serve the Specific Plan A rea would have suffic ient av ailable capa city to accommodate additional users and whether new facilities would need to be constr ucted, the cons truction of which would cause significant environmental impacts; and whether the P roposed Plan will result in substantial physical deterioration to park and recreational facilities.
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3.11.5.4 Environmental Impacts
REC-1 Would the project:
Increase the use o f e xisting neighborhood and re gional parks or ot her recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated.
Less than Significant.
According to the C ity of Compton General Plan, the Compton Recreation Department oversees nineteen local parks t otaling almost 76.32 acres.20 The Nat ional Recreation and Pa rks Associat ion reco mmends five acres of parkland for every 1,0 00 residents. Ho wever, the Quimby Ordinance en able cities in California with standards of three acres per 1,000 residents to assess ne w developments an impact fee for park development. Given that the City’s population is approximately 95,740 residents in 2020, that would mean the City needs to provide 287 acres of park space per the Quimby Act. However, as noted the City only has 76 acres of parkland available; therefore, the City is experiencing a park deficit.21 Construction
Construction activities associated with buildout of the project would not impact the ex isting parks an d recreation facilities or increase the permanent population in the specific plan area. Thus, no impacts to the existing parks and recreation facilities would occur during construction.
Operation
Buildout of the project wou ld include the c onstruction of 2,178 residential units. With th e addition of these residential units, the residential population is expected to grow by 9,236 residents.
As shown in Table 3.11-3, Public Parks and Re creational Facilities Located in the City of Compto n, the Department maintains 76.32 acres of public park land throughout the City . Currently, Wilson Park, a 3.9- acre park featuring a picnic area, skate park, recr eation rooms, and g ymnasium, is the only par k located within the Specific Plan area, located approximately a quarter mile east of Compton Station. Other parks in the City would also be accessible to residents of the Plan area.
20 City of Compton. Draft Compton General Plan 2030, Section 5.0 Conservation, Open Space, and Recreation Element.
Available online at: http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=24236. 21 Ibid.
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The City of C ompton has an existing ope n space deficiency with a ratio o f 0 .6 park acres per 1,000 residents.22 The Quimby A ct has a standard of t hree acres of p arkland for every 1,000 residents, a standard that would req uire at least 285 acres to meet the needs of the existing population in the City of Compton. Combining the 7 6.32 acres of parkland and the fiv e miles of bike p ath, the City has a cu rrent parkland deficiency of 203.68 acres.
With a ratio of 0. 6 park acres per 1,000 residents, the City does not meet the Quimby Act’s recommended standard. Based upon the anticip ated population generated b y the Speci fic Plan and amou nt of op en space that would be provided upon its implementation, the City ’s ratio of public parks to residen ts would be approximately 0.7 acres pe r 1,0 00 reside nts, which is below the Qu imby Act standard. With implementation of the S pecific Plan, development standards would req uire common open space in residential developments that would offset the impacts to existing park facilities. These standards dictate the ratio of open space per residential unit in different zones. Open space per zone may be 100 feet or 200 feet per resid ential unit depending on the zon ing designation. For instance , downtown deve lopment standards require 100 feet of open space per residential until while residential urban zoning requires 200 feet of open space per unit. The open space can be in the form of private or common open spaces, with up to 20% of the requirement may be met through publicly accessible on-site open space. Under the Specific Plan, open space will be added accordin g to these standards as projects are constructed , increasing the amount of open space available and decreasing demand for offsite open space.
In addition, the Specific Plan ( Chapter 5.0 Mobility and Parking) includes design measures and poli cies for paseos, plazas, and public spaces to be incorporat ed in the Plan area, as wel l as a plan to close Alameda East and maintain it as a green way. While these improvements would not directly increase the total parkland acreage located in the Plan area, these uses would provide additional areas within the Plan area that could be used for passive recreation activities. Paseos would include landscaping and public art and provid e pedestrian walkways between a lleys and primary roadways, while public plazas would provide opportunities for interac tion between reside nts. In addition to these per manent improvements, the Specific Plan includes policies to create temporary recreational spaces and acti vities such as s treet closures for community events, farmer’s markets, and/or parades. Although these t emporary recreational spaces would not increase the total p arkland acreage through out the specific plan area, they would add to the existing number of recreational activities offered in the City.
The City of Compton Recreation Department (Department) is responsible for the provision, maintenance, and operation of public recreational and park facilities and services in the City. Development projects are
22 Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, 2016.
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expected to meet the c urrently adopted r equirements of t he CMC through the provision of park s pace, on-site improvements, and/or, the payment of in -lieu f ees. The City has determined these fees a re adequate to offset the impact of residential units on exi sting parks. The fees c ollected would be used for acquisition, development, and improvement of pu blic parks and recreation facilities throughout the City.
In lieu of paying the fees a ssociated with residential development, project appl icants/developers would have the option to d edicate land to be used for public parklan d. As stated above, project applicants/developers would be required to dedicate three acres per 1,000 residents. Moreover, while no specific projects are being propos ed at this time, the Specific Pla n has identif ied a future possibility of turning open s pace into park land. Chapter 7.7 of the Specific Plan identifies capital projects, funding sources, and jurisdictional levels of responsibility. Project number 7 calls for the conversion of open space to neighborhood park through park fees and financing districts with jurisdictional responsibility through the City, County and State. This provision allows the possibility of such conversion to assist the City in its park deficiency through implementation of the Sp ecific Plan. Although the City has identified there is a deficit of parkland within the City, the project includes prov isions for public open space that would help to relieve the burden on existing parks. Further, as new developme nt is proposed, p roject applicants/developers would be required to pay fees or dedicate parkland to satisfy their obligation to the City. Therefore, the future development projects would not c reate capacity or serv ice level problems or result in substantia l physical impa cts associated with the provision or new or alte red parks facilities.
Impacts would be less than significant.
REC-2 Include re creational facili ties o r requi re the cons truction o r expansion of recreational facilities which mig ht ha ve an a dverse physical ef fect on the environment.
Less than significant
Construction and operation of additional park and recreation facilities could impa ct aesthetics (including night lighting), air quality, cultural resources, geology, land use, noi se, transportation, utilities, and other environmental issues. It is anticipated that the Specific Plan would result in the demand for new park and recreation facilities and that s uch facilities wou ld have the potential to physicall y affect the surrounding environment. As discussed abov e, Section 5 .0 of the Specific Plan incor porates policies encouraging the development of pase os, pla zas, and public spaces which could be use d for recreation use. The environmental ef fects that cou ld r esult fr om the construct ion of the proposed recreationa l facilities (including impacts to adjacent properties and exposure of sensitive receptors to pollutant concentrations) would be reduced to l ess than significant levels throug h constr uction-related mitigation measures identified throughout this EIR in Section 3.2 Air Quality and Section 3.9 Noise, and measures identified in
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the Specific Plan. Ther efore, the project would not result in adverse p hysical effects on the env ironment from construction or expansion of additional recreational facilities.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
Cumulative Impacts
Buildout of t he Specific Plan and related pro jects would result in population gro wth in the Specifi c Plan area that would result in increased usage of the City’s parks and recreation facilities. Similar to residential projects included in the Sp ecific Plan, related residential projects would be requi red to provide parkland acreage or p ay the City’s park developer fee. Revenue generated from the park developer fee could be used towards the development and construction of new park and recreation facilities and maintenance or expansion of current facilit ies. As stated above, future develop ment would be subj ect to CEQ A evaluation, including reducing significant im pacts to a less th an s ignificant level when possible. Thus, implementation of the Plan would not result in cumulatively considerable impacts to the City’s park and recreation facilities. No mitigation is required.
3.11.6 REFERENCES
About Us. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Available online at:
https://www.lasd.org/about_us.html, accessed on March 2, 2022.
Assembly Bill No. 9. California State Legislature. September 24, 2021. Available online at:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB9, accessed on November 24, 2021.
Casetext. Chawanakee Unified School District v. County of Madera. 2011. https://casetext.com/case/chawanakee-unified-sch-dist-v-cty-of- madera/?PHONE_NUMBER_GROUP=P.
City of Compton Fire Department, Core Services. 2022. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/depts/fire/default.asp.
City of Compton Master Fee Schedule, Fire Department Annual Permits/General Use Permits and Certificates, adopted October 10, 2017. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=28522, accessed on April 29, 2022.
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City of Compton Recreation Facilities. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/depts/parks/facilities/default.asp, 2021 City of Compton. Draft Compton General Plan 2030, Section 5.0 Conservation, Open Space, and Recreation Element. Available online at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=24236.
City of Downey, Communications, available online at: https://www.downeyca.org/our- city/departments/fire/divisions/communications, accessed on May 5, 2022.
Compton Municipal Code, Section 104.11.3-Mutual Aid, available online at:
https://ecode360.com/35617772, accessed on May 5, 2022.
Compton Unified School District. Developer Fees 2021. Available online at:
https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/departments/business-services/facilities/developer-fees-2021, accessed on February 8, 2022.
County of Los Angeles Public Libraries. Available online at: https://lacountylibrary.org/.
Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, 2016.
Los Angeles County Public Libraries. Available online at: https://lacountylibrary.org/.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Response to Inquiry, March 2, 2022.
Los Angeles Municipal Code, Section 22.246.060 - Library Facilities Mitigation Fee. Available online at:
https://library.municode.com/ca/los_angeles_county/codes/code_of_ordinances/354460?nodeId=T IT22PLZO_DIV9AD_CH22.246ADRE_22.246.060LIFAMIFE, accessed on March 16, 2022.
Los Angeles Unified School District, 2020 Developer Fee Justification Study, March 2020. Available online at:
https://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/921/LAUSD%20Dev%20Fee%2 0Study%202020_Final.pdf, accessed on March 16, 2022.
Security System and Law En forcement. M etro Los Angeles . A vailable online at:
https://www.metro.net/about/organization/, accessed on March 2, 2022.1
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3.12 TRANSPORTATION
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this section is to address the potential transportation impacts associated with the proposed s pecific plan.
On September 27, 2013, Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 743, whi ch went into effect in January 2 014 and directed the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to develop revisions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline s by J uly 1, 2014, to establish new criteria for determining the signific ance of t ransportation impacts and define alternative metrics for traffic level of service (LOS). This started a process that has changed the requirements for transportation im pact analyses under CEQA.
These changes include elimination of auto delay, LOS, a nd similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion as a basis for determining s ignificant transportation impacts resulting from land use projects and plans in California.
On J anuary 20, 2016, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OP R) r eleased the Revised Proposal on Updates to the CEQA Guidelines on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA , which was an update to Updating Transportation Impacts Analysis in the CEQA Guidelines, Preliminary Discussion Draft of Updates to the CEQA Gui delines I mplementing Senate Bill 743 , which had been released on August 6, 2014. Of particular relevance was the updated text of State CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, which as discussed further below establishes vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the most ap propriate m easure of transportation impacts. VMT is an area-wide performance measure which helps compare the overall performance of a project or project alternatives.
VMT analysis shifts the focus towards impacts caused by the distance traveled by vehicles rather tha n the localized congestion created by vehicles . Comparative scenarios of VMT are used to demonstrate the effect of land use or transportation projects by calculating total auto VMT divid ed by population and/or employment to determine the “efficiency” of the transportation system in moving persons with the fewest VMT. Even when new projects result in additional VMT, due to growth and population and employment, they could result in lower V MT efficiency as the numerator (VMT) would be relatively lower than th e denominator (persons). This would occur if persons drove shorter distances, carpooled more, or switched trips to non-auto modes such as walking, biking and transit.
The Guidelines became effective on July 1, 2020. As such, automobile delay as me asured by LOS or similar metrics is no longer to be considered a si gnificant environmental impact. Further, Sect ion 21099 (a)(2) of the Public Resources Code states “Upon certification of the guidelines by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency pursuant to this section, automobile delay, as described solely by level of service or similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion shall not be considered a significant impact on the environment pursuant to this division, except in locations sp ecifically identified in the guidelines, if any. ” T herefore, as LOS is no longer an environmental impact under CEQA, a ll analysis provi ded in this sec tion rel ated to LOS is presented for
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informational purposes only, and not for the purpose of determining a significant environmental impact under CEQA.
The contents of this section represent a summary of Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for Proposed Compton TOD Specific Plan, prepared for the proposed specific plan by Iteris. In accordance with SB 743 and the CE QA Guidelines, the TIA identified the changes in vehicles miles tra velled (VMT) associated with the Compton TOD Specific Plan. The TIA is provided in Appendix 3.12 in this PEIR.
3.12.2 ENIRONMENTAL SETTING
3.12.2.1 Existing Transportation Network
This section describes the existing conditions within the Specific Plan Area in terms of roadway facilities, transit service and traffic operating conditions, and alternative transportation facilities.
Freeways
Compton is located between the I-110, I-105, I-710, and CA-91 freeways. Freeway access to the Plan Area is provided to I -110 by Compton Boulevard, to CA -91 by Alameda Street and S anta Fe Avenue, and to I - 710 by Rosecrans Avenue.
Street Classification
The City of Compton circulation system consists of a net work of local stre ets providing access to the arterial highway system, which in turn provides access to the regional freeway system. T he Circulation Element’s Master Plan of Streets and Highways class ifies important roadways in the vicinity of the P lan area in the following categories:
• Major Highway – A Major Highway is the highest capacity street within the City’s street system .
Major Highways are designed to carry high volumes of traffic primarily for through trips. They serve as the principal connectors from lower classification streets to the freeway system and other regional routes. The standard calls for 100 feet of right -of-way and four to six travel lanes within a minimum 80-foot wide, cu rb-to-curb paved street section. The right -of-way and paved ro ad width can be increased at and near intersections to allow for median strips and extra turn lanes. Major highways in the Plan area include Rosecrans Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue. • Secondary Highway – Secondary highways connect major highways to collector and local streets and are intended to carry relatively high traffic volumes for both through and local trips. A secondary highway consists of 80 feet of right -of-way and four t ravel lanes within a 6 0-foor curb-to-curb paved
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section. Sec ondary highways in the Plan a rea include Compton Boulevard, Willowbrook Avenue, and Mona Boulevard.
• Standard Collector – Standard collectors serve the Cit y’s major industrial and commercial areas and high density residential developments and are designed to carry m oderate to relatively high volumes of traffic to the s econdary and m ajor highways, while avoiding lower density residential neighborhoods.
• Residential Collector – Residential collectors accommodates moderate traffic volumes and is intended to carry residential traffic from the neighborhoods to schools, parks, and shopping areas. • Local Streets – Local streets are designed to carry low volumes of loca l (non-through) traffic. Locals connect to c ollectors and highways for thro ugh trips. Standards f or focal streets are variable, given the variety of residential subdivisions whic h have been developed since Compto n incorporated as a City.
Roadway Descriptions
Rosecrans Avenue is an east-west major highway with two tra vel lanes in each direction and a planted median. The speed limit is 40 miles per hour in the Plan area.
Santa Fe Avenue is a nor th-south major highway with two travel lanes in each direction and a median turn lane. It has a width of 100 feet. The speed limit is 40 miles per hour in the Plan area.
Compton Boulevard is a n east-west secondary highway with two tra vel lanes in each direction. The speed limit is 35 per hour in the Plan area.
Alameda Street is a north-south collector split into two corridors with the same name, separat ed in the middle by the Alameda Co rridor grade-separated railroad trench. The western roadway is the major roadway of the two, has a width of 65 feet, and provides four travel lanes. The speed limit is 35 per hour in the Plan area.
Willowbrook Avenue is separated by the Metro Blue Line and has two parallel corridors within the same name. It is a north- south collector. The roadway width is 65 feet and has two travel lane s in each direction. The speed limit is 35 per hour in the Plan area.
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Transit Service
Several public transit options are availab le within the boundaries of the specific plan area including L os Angeles Metro rail and bu s service, and the Compton Renaissanc e Transit System. A brief discussion of the routes located in the specific plan area is provided below.
Metro A Line
The Metro A Line (B lue) provides all- day, frequent rapid transit access from two stations in the City, Compton and Artesi a Stations, to t he Los Angeles metropolitan area including Downtown Los Angeles, and Downtown Long Beach. It rec ently underw ent a $1 billio n refur bishment to improve speed, reliability, and customer experience.
Metro Local Bus Service
• Route 3 provides service between the MLK Transit Center and Redondo Beach along Alameda St and Alondra Blvd in the Plan area.
• Route 125 bus lin e runs east west between Norwalk Station and the City of El Segundo along Rosecrans Avenue.
• Route 127 provides service between the MLK Transit Center and Figueroa and 117th St. • Route 202 bus line runs north-south between the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Stat ion and Del Amo Station via Greenleaf Blvd, Alameda St, Artesia Blvd, and Acacia St.
Compton Renaissance Transit System
The Renaissance Transit system is a fixed-route bus system that serve the City. The system has five routes that operates in a loop patt ern, on a Monday to Saturday service schedule. All five lines run through the Plan area.
Pedestrian Facilities
Existing pedestrian facilities alon g t he major corridors consist of traditional sidewalks and pedestrian street crossings, many of which use de corative, colored paving stones to more effectively demarcate pedestrian space. These enhanced pedestrian crossings are used at the majority of sign alized intersections along major corridors within the Plan area, with a few exceptions such as on Comp ton Boulevard at Douglas Dollarhide Drive, Santa Fe Avenue at Laurel Street, and Myrrh Street and Acacia Avenue.
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At unsignalized intersections both on and off major corridors, pedestrian crossings are generally unmarked, or if marked, tend not to use high-visibility crosswalks o r other e nhancements to improve pedestrian safety. Exceptions to this include crosswalks within school zones. Pedestrian curb ramps are generally present at intersections regardless of the presence of marked crosswalks, with ta ctile warning curb ramps intermittently present.
Pedestrian connections to the Metro A Line Compton Station are well -developed on the east, north, and south of the station pla tform, connecting to Compton Town Center and Renaissance Plaza shopping centers, Compton Boulevard and the Compton Civic Center, and residential areas to the north along Willowbrook Avenue East. However, there are no pedestrian connections acr oss the Metro A Line tracks to the residential neighborhoods to the west, forcing p edestrians to first have to use Elm Str eet or Compton Boulevard to connect to Compton Station.
Bicycle Facilities
Current bicycle facilities within the Plan area include Cla ss II bike lanes on Compton Boulevard east of Willowbrook Avenue in both d irections as well as on Santa Fe Avenue. On Sa nta Fe Av enue, there are clearly marked Class II bike lanes in both directions south of Laurel Street, while north of Laurel Street there is a clearly marked Class II bike lane in the southbound direction and an implied bike lane inside of a wide curbside pa rking lane in the northbound direction. Clearly marked Class II bike lanes resume in both directions on Santa Fe Avenue north of Rosecrans Avenue.
3.12.2.2 Baseline Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
The City of Compton has not adopted a local VMT threshold but anticipates establishing a threshold as part of a comprehensive General Plan update and Program EIR currently under way. The County of Los Angeles has adopted guidance in accordance with OPR that suggests the minimum reduction standard threshold land use plans is 16.8 percent below existing VMT per service population, the to tal VMT per service population for the South County Area is 31 .1.1 VMT is calculated by travel demand models, which use similar methodologies and inputs of socioe conomic data, transportation networks, and travel pattern surveys to calculate weekday VMT. While the specific values of VMT may vary from model to model and m odel year to model year, g enerally the models are consistent in their magnitude of comparison be tween dif ferent geographic units and in their assessment of the VMT characteristics of projects.
1 Los Angeles County Public Works, Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines, July 23, 2020 https://pw.lacounty.gov/traffic/docs/Transportation-Impact-Analysis-Guidelines-July-2020-v1.1.pdf
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The Plan’s existing conditions are based on a 2021 Notice of Pr eparation which sets 2021 as the b aseline for the transportation analysis. Based on SCA G’s 2020 Connect SoCal Regio nal Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS, Connect SoCal) Growth Forecast projections and California Air Resources Board’s EMFAC model, the 2 021 baseline VMT per capita for the County of Los Angeles would be 17.06 miles. The City of Compton VMT per capita is calculated as 14.32 VMT per capita.
3.12.3 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
3.12.3.1 Federal Regulations
Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) Transportation Conformity
Congress passed the first major CA A (42 U.S. Code [USC] 7 506(c)) in the 1970s which g ive EPA primary responsibility to regulate mobile and station ary so urces of emissions and direct st ates to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and required conformity determinations for areas designated nonattainment against the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) , which included Ventura County .
Conformity analysis and determination can be done at a regional level. SCAG provides a regional transportation conformity analysis in the Plan to a ddress all nonattainment areas within the six count y- region. The regional conformity determination is updated every 4 years with the RTP and associated FTIP and is done a s a par t of th e project-level conformi ty process for regionally significant projects as they occur. A hot s pot analysis is provided to c onfirm that the project will not cause or worsen a localized violation of the standard for carbon monoxide (CO ) or parti culate matter (PM10 and/or PM2.5) in t he existing nonattainment area. For more information, refer to Section 3.2 Air Quality.
Metropolitan Transportation Planning
The provisions of Title 23 USC Se ction 134 et s eq. provides direct auth ority for Me tropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) such as SCAG to act as a regional transportation planning organization with direct responsibility for carrying out the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). SCAG is ta sked with carrying out the transportat ion planning process a nd adop ting lo ng-range transportation plans. Collaborating with state and public tra nsportation operators, SCAG undertakes a performance- driven, outcome -based approach to planning for the six county reg ions. SCAG must prepare a transp ortation plan to be updated every fo ur years, including iden tification of transportation facilities and fa ctors for each mode of non- motorized transport to major roadways, transit, multimodal and intermodal facilities, and connectors that should function a s an integra ted system serving regio nal transportation funct ions. The scope of transportation planning process is to provide consideration of projects and str ategies that will achieve the following objectives (23 U.S.C. Section 134(g)(3)(A)):
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• Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity and efficiency;
• Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users; • Increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users; • Increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight; • Protect and enhance t he environment, promote energ y conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and S tate and local planned g rowth and economic devel opment patterns; Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight; • Promote efficient system management and operation;
• Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system; • Improve the resiliency of and reliability of the transportation system , and reduce stormwater impac ts of surface transportation; and
• Enhance travel and tourism
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST)
The Fixing Amer ica’s Surface Transportation (F AST) Act (Pub. L. No. 114 -94), enacted in 2015, builds on the changes to federal transportation pl anning law made by MAP -21.2 It was the first long- term surface transportation authorization enacte d in a decad e that pro vides l ong-term funding certainty for surface transportation.3 The FAST Act authoriz es $305 billion over fiscal years 2016 through 2020 for hig hway improvements, highway and motor vehicle safety, public transportation, motor carrier s afety, hazardous materials sa fety, rai l, and research, techn ology, and statistics programs. The FAST Act m aintains the focus on safety, keeps intact the established structure of the various highway-related programs, continues efforts to streamline project delivery, and provides a dedi cated s ource of federal dollars for freight projects.
2 The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was enacted in 2012 (PL 112-141). 3 Federal Highway Administration. Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Available at:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/, accessed December 18, 2018.
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Under the FAST Act and its predecessors, MPOs such as SCAG must prepare lon g-range transportation plans and update them every four year s if t hey are in areas designated as “ nonattainment” or “maintenance” for f ederal air quality stan dards. Per federal requirements, long -range tr ansportation plans must:
• be developed through an ope n and i nclusive process, that ensures public input; seeks ou t and considers the needs of those traditionally underserved by existing transportation systems; • consults with resource agencies to ensure poten tial problems are disco vered early in the planning process;
• be developed for a period of not less than 20 years into t he future; long-range transporta tion plans must reflec t the m ost rec ent assumptions for popu lation, travel, land use, congestion, employme nt and economic activity;
• have a financially-constrained element, transportation revenue assumptions must be rea sonable, and the long range financial estimate must take into account construction-related inflation costs; • include a description of the perform ance measures and perfo rmance targets used in assess ing the performance of the transportation system;
• include a system performance report evaluating t he condition and performance of the system with respect to performance targets adopted by the state that detail progress over time; • include multiple scenarios for consideration and evaluation relative to the state perf ormance targets as well as locally-developed measures;
• conform to t he appl icable federal air quali ty plan, called the State Implementation Plan, for ozone and other pollutants for which an area is not in attainment; and • consider planning factors and strategies in the local context.
3.12.3.2 State and Regional
Senate Bill 743
Senate Bill 743 (SB 743) w as enacted in 2013 and became effective in July 2014. It req uires OPR and the Natural Resources Age ncy to amend the CEQA Guidelines through developing criteria for determining the way transportation impacts are measured in Cal ifornia for new development pr ojects, making sure they are built in a way that allows Californians more options to drive less (Pub. Res. Code § 21099(b).).
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Starting on July 1, 2020, agencies analyzing the transportation impacts of new projects must now loo k at a metric known as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) instead of LOS. VMT measures how much actual auto travel (additional miles dr iven) a proposed project would create on California roads. If the project adds excessive car travel onto our roads, the project may cause a significant transportation impact. This change is intended to help the State achieve climate commitments, preserve the environment, improve health and safety and boost the economy by prioritizing co-located jobs, services, and housing. It will also reduce the time spent in cars to get places a nd provide more choices for how people travel, which will help to promote business, provide access to opportunity, and improve the quality of life across California .
Senate Bill 375
Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) require s metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to prepare a SCS th at demonstrates how the region wi ll meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets through integrated land use, housing and transportation planning. Spe cifically, the SCS must identify a tran sportation network that is integrated with the forecasted develo pment pattern for the pla n area a nd will reduce GHG emi ssions from automobiles and light trucks in accordance with targets set by the California Air Resources Board. The targets for SCAG are a 9 percent reduction in per capita transportation by 2020 and 16 percent by 2035.
California Vehicle Code (CVC)
The CVC provi des requirements for ensuring emergency vehicle a ccess regardless of traffic conditions.
Sections 21806(a)(1), 21806(a)(2), and 21806(c) define how motorists and pedestrians are required to yiel d the right-of-way to emergency vehicles.
3.12.3.3 Local and Regional
Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is an association of local governments and agencies tha t serves as a Metropolit an Planning Organization, a Regional T ransportation Planning Agency, and a Council of Gove rnments. The SCAG region encompasses si x count ies (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 c ities. SCAG is responsible for devel oping lo ng-range regional trans portation plans, including the regional Sustainable Communi ties Strategy and associated growth for ecasts, regional transportation improvement programs, regional housing need s allocations and a portion of the South Coast Air Quality management plans (SCAG 2018).
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SCAG’s 20 20-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustain able Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), Connect S oCal, is a long-range regional transportation and land use network p lan that looks a head 20+ yea rs and provides a vision of the region’s future mobilit y and housing needs with economic, environmental and public health goals. Connect SoCal builds upo n and e xpands land use and transportation strategies established over sever al planning cycles to increa se mobility options and achieve a more sustainable growth pattern. SCAG adopted its current RTP/SCS in September 2020.
As part of the state’s mandate to reduce per-capita GHG emissions from automobiles and light trucks, Connect SoCal presents s trategies and tools to achieve reductions in GHG emissions at the regional level through reduced per-capita VMT. The goals included in Connect SoCal are as follows:
• Focus Growth Near Destinations & Mobility Options
• Promote Diverse Housing Choices
• Leverage Technology Innovations
• Support Implementation of Sustainability Policies
• Promote a Green Region
Los Angeles County OurCounty 2020 Climate Action Plan
Los Angeles County’s Climate Action Plan , “OurCounty,” was adopted in 2015 and called to reduce the impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emi ssions from community activities. T he Plan promotes transit -oriented communities, the reduction of single occupancy vehicle trips, and dramatically increasing the number of trips by taken by transit, biking, walking, or micro -mobility. The following goals and policies are specific to transportation impacts of developments:
Goal 8: Circulation System . A convenient, safe, clean, and affordable transportation system that enhances mobility and quality of life while reducing car dependency Strategy 8A Reduce VMT by prioritizing alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles Strategy 8B Improve transportation health and safety outcomes VMT Targets
• 2025 Target – Reduce VMT per capita to 20 miles by increasing new housing built within ½ mile of high frequency transit to 50%
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• 2025 Target – Reduce VMT per capita to 15 miles by increasing new housing built within ½ mile of high frequency transit to 65%
• 2035 Target – Reduce VMT per capita to 10 miles by increasing new housing built within ½ mile of high frequency transit to 75%
The Climate Action Plan is in the process of being updated.
City of Compton General Plan Circulation Element
The f ollowing goa ls and policies of the City of Compton General Plan are applicabl e to the proposed Compton TOD Specific Plan project.
Circulation Goal 1. Participate in regional transportation plann ing efforts to support consistency with the goals of the City’s General Plan.
Policy 1.1. The City of Compton will part icipate in regional transportation planning efforts coordinated by the Southern Ca lifornia Association of Governments to ensure that the needs of the City of considered.
Policy 1.2. City of Compton will participate in the development of the sub -regional Sustainable Community Strat egy (SCS) being prepared by the Gateway Cities Counc il o f Government to ensure that the City of Compton is represented in the development of the SCS.
Policy 1.3. The City of Compton will comply with the adopted Los Angeles County Congestion Management Plan (CMP).
Policy 1.4. The City of Compton wil l participa te with t he Los Angeles County Airport and Use Commiss ion in their land use planning efforts fo r Compton Airport.
Policy 1.5. The City of Compton will co ordinate with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Auth ority, t he cities of Ga rdena and Long Beach, and Compton Renaissance Transit System to maintain bus rou tes and regular bus schedules citywide for both local and regional trips.
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Circulation Goal 2. Maintain a street system that meets current and future City ne eds and that facilitates the s afe and e fficient movement of people and goods throug hout Compton.
Policy 2.1. The City of Compton will maintain the street sys tem in accordance with the Circulation Element Roadway Classifications and Standards.
Policy 2.2. The City of Compton will adhere to est ablished development standards and street cross section standards for all roadway improvements.
Policy 2.3. The City of Compton will promote Transportation Demand Management strategies to minimize the nu mber of ave rage daily vehicle trips along City streets.
Policy 2.4. The City of Compton will discourage “spillover” traffic on residential neighborhoods.
Policy 2.5. The City of Compto n will enforce the ordinance limitin g truck traf fic to designated truck routes.
Policy 2.6. The City of Com pton will review circulation plans for industrial developments seeking permits to determine compatibility with neighboring land uses.
Circulation Goal 3. Improve i nfrastructure for public transporta tion, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modes.
Policy 3.1. The City of Compton will maintain and promote the Ma rtin Luther King Jr. Transit Center as a multi-modal transit stop.
Policy 3.2. The City of Compton will encourage new large- scale commerci al and residential projects to in corporate bus bays, bus shelters, tran sit stops, bicycle racks, and other similar fe atures that promote the use of alternative forms of transit into project design.
Policy 3.3. The City of Compton will work with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to pro vide sheltered, clearly marked, and safely located bus stops.
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Policy 3.4. The City of Compton will encourage integrated , mixed us e developments which locate retail and service commercial uses within easy walking distance of the residential neighborhoods they are intended to serve.
Circulation Goal 4. Provide adequate, properly designed off -street parking facilities for all t ypes of development.
Policy 4.1. The City of Com pton will require new develo pment projects to provide parking facilities with zoning code requirements that are convenient and safe.
Policy 4.2. The City of Compton will promote join t-use or shared parkin g arrangements w here it can be shown that such ar rangements will not create on-street parking problems.
Housing Goal 2. Provide a vari ety of t ypes a nd an adequate supply of housing to meet the existing and future needs of City residents.
Policy 2.8. The City of Compton w ill locate higher density residential development in clo se prox imity to public transportation, m unicipal s ervices, and recreation.
City of Compton Bicycle Plan
The City of Compton Bicycle Plan states that Compton strives to be one of the most bikeable, livable and age-friendly cities in the United States and to provid e a safe, beautiful, and connecte d system of bikeways, making the healthy choice the easy choice for all ages and abilities. Bicycling should be part of Compton residents’ daily routine.
As a historic transportation hub within Los Angeles County, Compton should provide residents with transportation choices that capit alize upon the City’s multi- modal infrastructure. Ra ther than replace travel by public transit, bicycling can comp lement these tr ips by enabling easier access to transit and providing alterna tives for the first and last mile s of tri ps. Improving c onnections to Metro Blue Line stations, in particular, would encourage Blue Line riders to bicycle to and from Compton Station and Artesia Station. In this way, rates of bicycling and transit use can increase in tandem in the future .4
4 http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=25823
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3.12.4 IMPACTS AND MI TIGATION MEASURES
Thresholds of Significance
The following thres holds for determining the significance of impacts related to transportat ion are contained in the environmental checklist form contained in Appendi x G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption a nd/or implementation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan could result in significant impacts, if any of the following would occur:
• Conflict with a program plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
• Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b). • Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerou s intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment). • Result in inadequate emergency access.
Methodology
CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b) provides c onsiderations f or e valuating a project’s tra nsportation impacts. Land Use Projects (b)(1) are evaluated through Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). G enerally, projects with in one -half miles of either an existing major transit stop or a stop along an existing hig h quality transit c orridor should be presumed to cause a less than significant transportation impact. 5 Projects that decrease VMT in the project area compared to exi sting conditions should be presumed to have a less than significant transportation impact.
Los A ngeles County guidelines state d aily vehicle trips, daily VMT, and daily total VMT per service population for land use plans shou ld be es timated using th e SCAG RTP/SCS Travel Deman d Forecast Model. Transportation demand management strat egies to be in cluded as pro ject design features should be considered in the estimation of a project’s daily vehicle trips and VMT.
The base year SC AG RTP/SCS travel demand model with a base year of 2018 was used to calculate the baseline Plan area and City of Compto n area VMT which wa s divided by the service populations (residents and employees) to o btain a value of VMT per se rvice population. It sh ould be noted the traffic analysis zone (TAZ) structure of the travel demand model for the City of Compton includes som e
5 California Office of Planning and Research. Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA. 2018.
Available online at: https://opr.ca.gov/docs/20190122-743_Technical_Advisory.pdf, accessed March 17, 2022.
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adjacent unincorporated areas, therefore the population and employment values for th e group of TAZs for the Cit y of Compton area are greater th an the totals for the City proper, and may therefore vary slightly from US Census or other data sources provide d within this PEIR. However, since the metric of analysis is the indexed VM T per service population rather than the absolute VMT values, the sli ght differences in analysis boundarie s as compared to City values are indistinguishable from e ach other and do not affect the analysis.
3.12.5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Impact TRA-1 Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or po licy addressing the circ ulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities.
Less Than Significant
As described in S ection 2.0 Project Description, the goal s of the S pecific Plan are to facilitate t ransit- oriented development in the Plan area and improve accessibility and safety. These goals align with the goals of Connect SoCal , RHNA, OurCounty 2020 Climate Action Plan , the Compton Gene ral Plan, and the City’s Bicycle Plan.
Connect SoCal identifies Priority Growth Areas (PGAs) to follow t he principles of cente r focu sed placemaking. This approach focuses growth and investment in areas that are pedestrian oriented, human- scaled, and contain a mix of uses and housing types, such as Transit Priority Areas (TPA s). Center focused placemaking attempts to create places where people want to live, work, and play in locations that support multimodal m obility. These are lo cations whe re many Connect SoCal strategies can be fully realized. Connect SoCal’s PGAs include job centers, transit priority areas, HQTAs, neighborhood mobility areas, livable corridors, and spheres of influence. The Specific Plan is located in a C onnect SoCal priority growth area which supp orts focusing region al growth i n areas with plan ned or existing transit stops, which is key to achieving equity, economic, and environmental goals. It is located within an HQTA and conforms with the aligned tr ansportation and housing planning used to devel op the RHNA allocation. The Plan furthers development of hous ing within ½ mile of high frequency transit (Metro A Line) and supports the County’s C limate Action Plan goals an d targets to reduce VMT and GHG emissions. The Plan supports the Compton Bicycle P lan by planning for creating mu lti-modal linkages to Compton Station, and by developing pedestrian and bicycle -friendly env ironments in the statio n area through crossing improvements and bicycle parking. Therefore, the Specific Plan does not conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities, impacts would be less than significant.
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Impact TRA-2 Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3(b).
Less Than Significant Impact.
For land use projects, the intent of this threshold is to assess whether a land use or plan causes substantial vehicle miles traveled. Pursuant to the Dece mber 2018 O PR Technical Advisory, lead agencies hav e the discretion to choose the most appr opriate methodology for e valuating p roject VMT. For this Plan, the analysis uses thresholds fr om the County of Los Angeles. T he Los Angeles County Traffic Analysis Guidelines includes screening criteria that is used to determine compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b) and whether the Specific Plan adequately reduces total VMT. The screening criteria include:
• Is the project located within a one -half mile radius of a major transit s top or an exis ting stop along a high-quality transit corridor?
• Does the project have a Floor Area Ratio less than 0.75? • Does the project provide more parking than required by the County Code? • Is the project inconsistent with the SCAG RTP/SCS?
• Does t he project repl ace residential units set aside for lower inco me households w ith a smaller number of market-rate residential units?
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The Specific Plan includes the Metro A Line Compton Station and the surrounding area within one half mile. Much of the Plan’s anticipated development is within approximately 3,000 feet from the station, within the Downt own Core, Civic Center and Historic Dist ricts, and improved s treet connections would increase pedestrian a ccess to t he station . The a nticipated de velopment has a Floor Area Ra tio (FAR) of greater than 0.75 and the provided parking will be below what is req uired by the County and City code.
The Specific Plan is consistent with the SCAG RTP/SCS by provid ing infill development in a HQTA, and it increases the number o f h ousing units in the Plan area and does not replace any lower income households. As a result, the Specific Plan is presumed to have a less than significant impact.
Although no further analysis is needed according to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3(b ), the following analysis was conducted for informational purposes. Iteris , I nc. conducted a VMT An alysis based on implementation of the Specific Plan. As shown in Table 3.12-1 , the baseline Plan area d aily VMT per service population is 16.4, which is lower than the City area’s VMT per service population of 17.2.
Table 3.12-1
Baseline VMT Per Service Population
Area
Total
Home-
based VMT
per day
Total
Work-
based
VMT / day
Total
VMT /
day
Residents Employees Service
Population
VMT/Service
Population
TOD Area 578,018 292,174 870,192 40,766 12,182 52,948 16.4 City of
Compton Area 1,736,343 760,714 2,497,057 115,811 29,187 144,998 17.2
The Plan would ge nerate about 126,884 total VMT. Table 3.12-2 shows the future year 2040 No Project scenario, which includes cumulative developmen t and transportation infra structure and services outside of the Plan area. This scenario demonstrates how the Plan area w ould grow without implementation of the Plan , its resulting new residents and employees and their travel patterns . Future year 2040 with Project scenario is show n in Table 3.12-3 , which i ncludes the Specific Plan as well as cumu lative development and transportation infra structure and services outsid e of the P lan area. Under the Future Year 2040 No Project scenario VMT per service population would be reduced by approximately eight percent in both t he Plan area and the City of Compton to 15.2 and 15.9 re spectively from future planned
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changes in planned d evelopment and transportation facilities that would change travel patters to reduce vehicle travel distance and use of non-vehicle modes throughout the southern California region.
The Plan scenario decreases VMT per service population even further to 14.7 and 15.8 respectively since it would add transit-oriented residences and employment and increase the utilization o f non-vehicle modes of travel . Implementation of the Specific Plan is forecast to reduce VMT per service population i n the Plan area by approxima tely three percent and the VMT per service population in the City of Co mpton area by 0.5 percent, w hen compared to the N o Project scenario. This is d ue to the increase in the forecasted population and employment in the Plan are a whic h i s located adjacent to a transit station, which would increase the potential for transit ridership Table 3.12-2
Future Year 2040 No Project VMT Per Service Population
Area
Total
Home-
based VMT
Total
Work-
based
VMT
Total
VMT Residents Employees Service
Population
VMT/Service
Population
TOD Area 551,662 289,072 840,734 41,976 13,506 55,482 15.2 City of Compton
Area 1,671,603 752,359 2,423,962 120,549 32,221 152,770 15.9 Table 3.12-3
Future Year 2040 with Plan VMT Per Service Population
Area
Total
Home-
based
VMT
Total
Work-
based
VMT
Total
VMT Residents Employees Service
Population
VMT/Service
Population
TOD Area 667,216 300,402 967,618 51,636 14,048 65,684 14.7 City of Compton
Area 1,794,196 779,647 2,573,843 130,209 32,763 162,972 15.8
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Table 3.12-4
Future Year 2040 Plan Only VMT Per Service Population
Area
Total
Home-
based VMT
Total
Work-
based
VMT
Total
VMT Residents Employees Service
Population
VMT/Service
Population
TOD Area 115,554 11,330 126,884 9,660 542 10,202 12.4
Table 3.12-4 shows the VMT per service population that will result from the Plan development only. The VMT characteristics of the Plan residential and employment is forecast as 12.4 which is approximat ely 24 percent below the existing condition in the Plan area shown i n Table 3.12 -1 and 18 percent below the future No Project condition for the Plan area shown in Ta ble 3.12-2. The Plan ’s VMT per service population would also be more than 16 .8 % below the County ’s 31.1 VMT per service population for the South County Area.
Therefore, implementation of the S pecific Pla n would adequately reduce VMT and there would be no significant impacts.
Mitigation Measures
Impacts are less than significant, no mitigation is required.
Impact TRA-3 Substantially increase hazard s due to g eometric design f eature (e .g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment).
Beneficial Impact
The objective of the Specific Plan is to ensure future development within the Plan area would improve connectivity and linkages in the Plan area. The Plan includes improvements to the street network w ith particular atte ntion on several corridors: Willowbrook Avenue ; Alameda East ; and Compton Boulevard to include new pedestrian and bicycle amenities to increase mobility and connection to the Compton Station. Each of these corridors is proposed to be mod ified to create a m ore walkable, bikeable, and transit-oriented station area.
Willowbrook Avenue is currently unsafe and confusing to navigate for pedestrians, pa rticularly at intersections. The Plan will redesign Willowbrook Avenue to enable direct access from Rosecrans Avenue to the Commercial Core. The Plan will also construct bike lanes on both side s, build raised
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crossings to connect Compton Station to the Met ro Plaza, and includ e amenities to improve the pedestrian experience.
Alameda East between R osecrans Avenue and Com pton Boulevard is a little -used roadway . The Specific Plan proposes to close the roadway and co nvert the street into a greenway that will pr ovide safe bicycle and pedestrian access to Wilson Park and Downtown Compton.
Compton Boulevard will be redesigned to become the Compton Walk, a pedestrian -friendly, activated street that will li nk the Civic Center, Commercial Core, and Historic Core dist ricts with the Metro station. These additions would further c onnect existing established comm unities in the Plan Area , improve ease of navigation, and increase safety.
Additionally, the Plan proposes to enhance the existing bicycle network and develop a n ew comprehensive network to improve safety and convenience.
These proposed improvements included in the Specific Plan will be designed to City and Stat e engineering design standards to meet sight distance requirements, including visibility of pedest rians and bicyclists. The Specific Plan does not propose any incomp atible uses that would increase hazards. As a result, the Specific Plan will have a beneficial impact on geometric design features and incompatible uses.
Mitigation Measures
None Required.
Impact TRA-4 Result in inadequate emergency access.
Less Than Significant Impact.
The Specific Plan does not include ele ments that would impede emergency vehicle access. Public roadways and buildings would conform to City and County Fire Department standards for access.
The City of Compton adopted the California Fire Code which requires standards fo r access by fire apparatus. A fire apparatus access road is a road that provides fire apparatus access from a fire station to a facility, building or portion ther eof. This is a general term inclusive of all other terms such a s fire lane, public street, private street, parking lot lane and access roadway. Standard s r elated to fire apparatus access roads under the California Fire Code include:
• Facilities, buildings or p ortions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be access ible to fire department apparatus by way of an appro ved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, concrete or
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other approved driving surface c apable of supporting the imposed load of fire app aratus weighing at least 75,000 pounds.
• Roads 20 to 26 Feet in width shall have fire lane signs posted on both sides of fire apparatus access. • Buildings or facilities exceeding 30 feet or three stories in he ight, more than 62,000 feet of gross building area or projects having more than 100 dwelling units shall have at least two means of fire apparatus access for each structure.
Each of the standards will b e a pplied to the Plan’s development and the Plan would not result in inadequate emergency access, resulting in a less than significant impact.
Mitigation Measures
None Required.
3.12.5.1 Cumulative Impacts
Los Angele s C ounty Traffic Analysis Guidelines includes methodologies for evaluating cumulative impacts. Short-term effects a re evaluated through pro ject-level VMT analysis. Long-term, or cumulative impacts are eva luated th rough a project’s c onsistency with the S CAG RTP/SCS. The Connect SoCal RTP/SCS is the regional plan that demonstrates compliance with air quality conformity requirements and GHG redu ction t argets. As such, projects that are consistent with this pl an in t erms of development location, density, and intensity, are part of the regional so lution for meeting air pollution and GHG goals.
Projects that are deemed to be consistent would have a less than significant cumulative impact on VMT.
As stated under I mpact T-1, the Specific Plan is consistent with the SCA G RTP/SCS and therefore would have a less than significant cumulative impact on VMT and the transportation system.
Mitigation Measures
None Required.
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3.12.6 REFERENCES
California Office of Planning and Research. Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA. 2018. Available online at: https://opr.ca.gov/docs/20190122-743_Technical_Advisory.pdf, accessed March 17, 2022.
Federal Highway Administration. Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Available at:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/, accessed December 18, 2018. http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=25823 Los Angeles County Public Works, Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines, July 23, 2020 https://pw.lacounty.gov/traffic/docs/Transportation-Impact-Analysis-Guidelines-July-2020- v1.1.pdf
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was enacted in 2012 (PL 112-141).
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3.13 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION
This section analyzes the environmental effects related to utilities and service systems associated with implementation of the proposed Specific Plan. It discusses water and wastewater i nfrastructure as well as solid waste facilities. Issues related to water quality, drainage and infiltration patterns, and flood hazards are discussed in Section 3.7, Hydrology and Water Quality.
3.13.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
3.13.1.1 Water Supply
Water supply to the Plan Area is provided by the City of Compt on Water Utility District (CWUD), which obtains its water from groundwater pumped via local municipal wells in the adjudicated Central Groundwater Basin (Central Basin), and from imported surface water contracted by the City through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).
The CWUD is responsible for implementing the City's utility services and billing programs. The CWUD constructs, inspects, maintains and repairs water mains, gate valves, fir e hydrants, and water services to provide adequate potable water to the citizens and businesses of Compton. Its core services include customer service, water delivery, operations and maintenance of the water system, meter reading, and utility billing. The CWUD delivers water services to m ore than 15,000 service connections through approximately 156 miles of water mains. The distribution system consists of a pipeline system, five water tanks with a total storage capacity of 12.75 million gallons, one pressur e zo ne, and ni ne ground water wells.
The Central Basin from which the City extracts groundwater is one of five adjudicated groundwater sub - basins in the Los Angeles Basin. As an adjudicated groundwater basin, the courts have assigned specific water rights to w ater users within the Central Basin via an Adjudication Judgement, which likewise compels the cooperation of groundwater users who might otherwise refuse to limit their pumping.
Adjudication is in place for 22 groundwater basins in California, where de velopment pressures have overwhelmed limited aquifers and Adjudication Judgements are imposed to achieve and maintain groundwater sustainability. Adjudicated groundwater basins are exempt from the requirements of Senate Bill (SB) 610, as discussed below un der State regulations, because the Adjudication Judgement essentially achieves the same goals as a Water Supply Assessment.
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The Central Basin is located in central Los Angeles County and spans an area that underlies the entire City of Compton and beyond. The C entral Basin has a surface area of 277 square miles of mostly flat to hilly terrain. Water- bearing deposits of the Central Basin include unconsolidated marine and alluvial sediments deposited over time. Percolation from precipitation, subsurface inflow s from the San Gabriel Basin through the Whittier Narrows, and surface flows from local rivers and streams naturally replenish groundwater. The Central Basin is mostly urbanized and soil surfaces have been paved, limiting percolation to a small portion of the basin’s so ils. However, the Central Basin receives additional replenishment from the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Spreading Basins, which receive a blend of imported water and recycled water.
The Central Basin was adjudicated in 1965 and the California De partment of Water Resources (DWR) was appointed Watermaster. The City has court adjudicated water rights to pump approximately 70 p ercent of the City’s water demand. The City uses nine groundwater wells to pump potable water. Every month, each individual pumper reports monthly extractions so the Watermaster may regulate the water rights of the Subbasin.
The total allotted pumping ri ght from the Central Basin from all wells is 233,894 acre -feet per year (AFY), while the total allotted pumping rights for the City of Compton is 5,780 AFY. However, in accordance with the Adjudication Judgement for the Central Subbasin, the City may exceed its total allotment if, in the previous year, it did not pump the total 5,780 AFY. In this case, up to 20 percent of the allo tment may be carried over to the following year. Alternatively, the City may exceed its water pumping rights is if another water retailer chooses to lease water pumping rights to the City. Cities that do not pump their fully allotted rights may supplement the water supply to the City of Compton and prevent the need to increase imported water from Metropolitan in any given year. The latter option has been utilized by the City of Compton to reduce its dependence on Metropolitan imported water.
Table 3.13-1, Compton Water Utility Division Water Demand and Supply shows the projected water demand and supplies of the CWUD through 2035.
Table 3.13-1
Compton Water Utility Division Water Demand and Supply
2020 2025 2030 2035
Normal Year
Water Demand (AFY) 7,953 8,067 8,178 8,289
Water Supply (AFY) 9,407 9,407 9,407 9,407
Surplus (Supply – Demand) AFY) 1,454 1,340 1,229 1,118
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2020 2025 2030 2035
Single Dry Year
Water Demand (AFY) 7,969 8,083 8,342 8,306
Water Supply (AFY) 5,618 5,636 5,636 5,636
Surplus (Supply – Demand) AFY) -2,351 -2,447 -2,706 -2,670 Multiple-dry year first year supply
Water Demand (AFY) 8,001 8,115 8,227 8,339
Water Supply (AFY) 6,115 6,115 6,115 6,115
Surplus (Supply – Demand) AFY) -1,886 -2,001 -2,113 -2,224 Multiple-dry year second year supply
Water Demand (AFY) 8,001 8,115 8,227 8,339
Water Supply (AFY) 6,115 6,115 6,115 6,115
Surplus (Supply – Demand) AFY) -1,886 -2,001 -2,113 -2,224 Multiple-dry year third year supply
Water Demand (AFY) 8,001 8,115 8,227 8,339
Water Supply (AFY) 6,115 6,115 6,115 6,115
Surplus (Supply – Demand) AFY) -1,886 -2,001 -2,113 -2,224
AFY= Acre-feet per year
Source: City of Compton. 2015. 2015 Urban Water Management Plan. Available at:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/public/uwmp_attachments/7983976066/Compton2015UWMP.FullPlan.pdf, accessed February 4, 2022.
Table 3.13-1 shows that the City projects sufficient water supply availabl e during normal years to meet future dema nds. According to the 2015 UWMP , the demand during a single dry year, the worst -case scenario of experiencing another severe dro ught would leave the City with a 32% water deficit. In this event, the Central Basin Municipal Water District and MWD an p rovide additional surplus supplies to the City to meet demands, where necessary. Furthermore, the 2015 UWMP outlines a Water Shortage Contingency Plan which would reduce demand and prevent the need for the use of additional surplus.
Similar measures would also be taken during the event of a worst-case multiple dry year scenario.
Water demand for the Plan A rea based on existing land uses is sh own in Table 3.13-2, Plan Area Estimated Existing Annual Waster Demand.
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3.13-2
Plan Area Estimated Existing Annual Water Demand
Land Use
Size (sf) or
dwelling
units
Generation
Rates
(GPD per 1,000 sf or
du)
Daily Water
Demand
(GPD)
Wastewater
Generation
(AFY)
Commercial 742,454 sf 60 44,547 49.9
Office Building 124,136 sf 144 17,876 20.0
Industrial 298,821 sf 60 17,929 20.1
Institutional 1,425,643 sf 144 205,293 230.0
Residential 3,566 du 180 641,880 719.0
Total 927,525 1,039
Note: Estimated water demand is assumed to be 120% of wastewater generation. Generation rates available at: https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/sewer-s-permits/technical-procedures/sewage- generation-factors-chart
As shown above, existing development in the Plan Area has an annual water demand of a pproximately 927,525 gallons of water day, or 1,039 acre feet per year.
3.13.1.2 Waste water
The Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD) is a public agency created under State law to manage wastewater and solid waste o n a r egional scale. LACSD consists of 24 independent special districts across the County of Los Angeles. Compton is located primarily in LACSD Districts No. 1 and No. 8, with small portions of the eastern and southeastern parts of the City in Districts No. 2 and No. 3.
Wastewater is collected in Compton vi a an existing 143 -mile-long system of sewer lines maintained by the City’s Department of Public Works and Municipal Utilities’ Street Maintenance Division. Wastewater collected from the City is conveyed to the LACSD’s Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (J WPCP), located at 24501 S Figueroa Street in the City of Cars on. The JWPCP provides both primary and secondary treatment for approximately 260 million gallons of wastewater per day (MGD) and has a total pe rmitted capacity of 400 MGD. Treated effluent is then discharged from JWPCP through an ocean outfall.
Wastewater Generation associated with the existing land uses in the Plan Area are shown in Table 3.13-3, Existing Wastewater Generation in Plan Area.
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3.13-3
Plan Area Existing Wastewater Generation
Land Use
Size (sf) or
dwelling
units
Generation Rates
(GPD per 1,000 sf
or du)
Wastewater
Generation
(GPD)
Commercial 742,454 sf 50 37,123
Office Building 124,136 sf 120 14,896
Industrial 298,821 sf 50 14,941
Institutional 1,425,643 sf 120 171,077
Residential 3,566 du 150 534,900
Total 772,937
Source: City of Los Angeles. Sewage Generation Factors Chart. Available at:
https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/sewer-s-permits/technical-procedures/sewage-generation-factors- chart, accessed March 29, 2022.
3.13.1.3 Solid Waste
The City contracts with Republic Services, LLC for waste and recy cling collection services for residential, commercial, and industrial accounts. Solid waste and recycle loads are taken to Republic’s Compton Transfer Station for processing. From the transfer station, waste loads are loaded into transfer trailers and hauled to and d isposed of at Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar.1 A portion of waste, approximately five percent in 20 17, is taken to Southeast Resource Recovery Facility in Long Beach for transformation. 2 Recyclable materials processed at the Compton Tran sfer Station ar e taken to Republic’s CVT Material Recovery Facility in Anaheim for disposal. Solid waste currently generated by existing uses in the Specific Plan Area are shown in Table 3.13-4, Plan Area Existing Solid Waste Generation.
1 California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalR ecycle). 2018. “Waste Evaluation and Enforcement Branch Staff Report. Summary of the City of Compton’s Compliance Review and Consideration of the Issuance Compliance Order CO 018-002.”
2 California D epartment of R esources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycl e). 2018. “Waste Evaluation and Enforcement Branch Staff Report. Summary of the C ity of Compton’s Compliance Review and Consideration of the Issuance Compliance Order CO 018-002.”
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3.13-4
Plan Area Existing Solid Waste Generation
Land Use Quantity Generation
Rate
Solid Waste Generation
Pounds per
day Tons per day Cubic yards
per day1
Commercial 742,454 sf 0.005 lbs//sf/day 3,712 1.86 3.71 Office 124,136 0.006 lbs/sf/day 745 0.37 0.75
Industrial 298,821 0.006 lbs/sf/day 1,793 0.90 1.79
Institutional 1,425,643 0.007 lbs/sf/day 9,980 4.99 9.98 Residential 3,566 12.23 lbs/unit/day 43,612 21.81 43.61 Total 59,842 29.93 59.84
1Conversion factor assumed to be 1,000 pounds per cubic yard.
Source for generation rates based on CalRecycle. Available at https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/wastecharacterization/general/rates
3.13.1.4 Electrical Service
Electrical service to Compt on and t he Plan Area is provided by Southern Ca lifornia Edison Company.
Southern California Edison Company maintains substations in Compton, including the Longdon and Compton substations, as well as electrical distribution and transmission lines.
3.13.1.5 Natural Gas
The Specific Plan Area is provided na tural gas services by SoCalGas . SoCalGas provides natural gas service to approximately 21.8 million customers across a 24,000 square mile ser vice area .3 Compton, including the Plan Area, is located in SoCalGas’ Los Angeles Basin Zone.
3.13.2 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Federal, State, and local regulations applicable to utilities and service systems are presented below. This setting addresses issue areas relevant to utilities and service systems, includin g water supply, wastewater, and solid waste.
3 SoCalGas. Company Profile. Available at: https://www.socalgas.com/about-us/company-profile, accessed March 17, 2022.
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3.13.2.1 Federal
Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended (CWA)
The law was originally enacted as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA; Public Law 92 –500) in 1948, but took on its modern form whe n completely rewritten in 1972 in an act en titled the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, now commonly known as the Clean Water Act. Major changes have subsequently been introduced via amenda tory legislation including the Clean Water Ac t of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Its objective is to r estore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's wate rs by prevent ing point and no npoint polluti on sources, providing assis tance to publicly owned treatme nt works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintain ing the integrity of wetlands. It is one of the United States' first and most influential modern envir onmental laws. A s with many ot her major U.S. federal environmental statutes, it is admin istered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( U.S.
EPA), in coor dination with state governments. Its impleme nting regulations are codified at 40 C.F.R.
Subchapters D, N, and O (Parts 100-140, 401-471, and 501-503).
Section 303(d)
Section 303(d) of the Fe deral CWA requires the SWRCB to list impaired water bodies and det ermine TMDLs of pollutants or other stressors that are contributing excessively to these impaired waters.
Section 401 – Water Quality Certification
Section 401 establishes the basic structur e for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the U.S. and regulating quality standards for sur face waters. Under the CWA, the U.S. EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industries and surface waters.
Section 402
Section 402 establishes the National Pollutant Di scharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit pro cess. In California, NPDES permitting authority is delegated to, and administered by the nine RWQCBs. Pursuant to Section 402, a discharge of any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, are prohibit ed unless an NPDES permit is obtained. Point sources are di screte conveyances such as pipes or manmade ditches. Individual homes that are connecte d to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other fac ilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.
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Section 402(p) establishes that storm water permits are required for discharges from a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) serving a population of 100,000 or more. U.S. EPA defines a n MS4 as a conveyance or syst em of conveyances (inclu ding roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man -made channels, or storm drains) owned or operate d by a State (40 CFR 122.26(b)(8)).
The Calif ornia Departm ent of Tr ansportation (Caltran s) is responsible for th e design, construction, management, and maintenance of the State highway system, including freeways, bridges, tunnels, Caltrans’ facilities, and related properties, and is subject to the permitting requ irements of CWA Section 402(p). Caltrans’ discharges c onsist of storm water and non- storm water discharges from state- owned rights-of-way.
Before July 199 9, discharges from Caltrans’ MS4 were regula ted by individual NPDES permits issued by the RWQCBs. On J uly 15, 1 999, th e SWRCB issued a statewide permit (Order No. 99 -06-DWQ) that regulated a ll discharges from Caltrans MS4s, maintenance facilities, and construction activities. On September 19, 2012, Caltrans’ permit was reissued (Order No. 2012 -0011-DWQ), and it became effective on July 1, 2013.
Caltrans’ Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) des cribes the procedures and practices used to reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants to storm drainage systems and receiving waters. The SWMP was most recently updated in July of 2016.
Section 404 – Discharge of Dredge or Fill Material
Section 404 o f the federal CWA is administered and enforced by the U.S. Army Co rps of Engineers (USACE). Section 404 of the CWA establishes a program to regulate the d ischarge of d redged an d fill material into waters of the United Sta tes, including wetlands. USAC E ad ministers the day- to-day program, including the determination of e ligibility of project for use of Categorical Exclusions and Nationwide Permits, and revie w and conside ration of individual permit de cisions and jurisdiction al determinations. USACE also develops policy and guidance; and enforces Section 404 provisions.
3.13.2.2 State
Water Supply
Urban Water Management Planning Act
California State Assembly Bill 797 (Califor nia Wate r Code Section 10610, et seq.), adopted in 1983, requires every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to m ore than 3,000
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customers or more t han 3,000 acre -feet of wa ter on an annual basis to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). The intent of the UWMP is to assist wat er supply agencies in water resource planning given their existing and anticipated future demands. UWMPs must be updated every five years, in years ending in zero and five.
Senate Bills 610 and 221
SB 221 (Kuehl) amended the Subdivision Map Act, and SB 610 (Costa) amended Part 2.10 of the California Water Code regarding wat er supply availability. These amendments took effect on J anuary 1, 2002, an d require generally that water retail prov iders demonstrate that sufficient and reliable sources are available in order for local agencies to evaluate large- scale developments, and complete the environmental review process.
SB 610 requires cities and count ies that determine a project is subject to the California Env ironmental Quality Act (CEQ A) to identify any public w ater system that may supply water for the project, and to require those public water systems to prepare a specif ied water supply assessment to be included in any environmental documen t prepared for t he project. The assessment includes an identification of existing water supply entitlements, water rights, or water service contracts relevant to the identified water su pply for the proposed project and water received in prior years, pursua nt to those enti tlements, r ights, and contracts. If the assessment con cludes that water supplies are or will be insufficient, the public wa ter system shall also submit plans for acquiring additional water supplies.
SB 221 requires written verification from the applicable pub lic water system that suffi cient water supply is available for a subdivision of property of more than 500 dwelling units prior to approval of a tentative or parcel map.
Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SBX7-7)
The Water Conser vation Act of 2009 (also kno wn as Senate Bill X7 -7) establ ished a statewide water conservation target of 20 percent reduction in water use by 2020 comp ared to the State’s 2005 baseline use. The Act requires that retail wat er suppliers define in their 2010 urban water management plans the gallons per capita per da y (gpcd) targets for 202 0, with an interim 2015 target. The legislation also requires the Cal ifornia Dep artment of Water Resources, in consultation with other state agencies, to develop a single sta ndardized water use reportin g f orm, whi ch would be used by both urban and agricultural water agencies. EID’s 2015 UWMP, adopted in May 2016, complied with these requirements.
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Wastewater
California Code of Regulations Title 22
The California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4, C hapter 3, Sections 60301 through 60355 are used to reg ulate recycled wastewater and are administered jointly by the CDPH and the RWQCBs. Title 22 contains effluent requirements for four levels of wastewater treatment, from undisinfected secondary recycled water to di sinfected terti ary recycled water. Higher l evels of treatment have higher effluent standards, allowing for a greater number of uses under Title 22, including irrigation of freeway landscaping, pasture for milk animals, parks and playgrounds, and vineyards and orchards fo r disinfected tertiary recycled water.
Salt concentrations (such as chloride, nitrogen, sodium, etc.) i n the effluent are regulated based on the Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the Los Angeles Region, which also consid ers l ocal groundwater quality. Recycled water quality goals for salts and other constituents would vary depending on the intended irrigation recipients. The RWQCB will develop waste discharge requir ements based on the Basin Plan, designed to protect beneficial uses of the State waters. The RWQCB Basin Plan contains an antidegradation policy so that existing quality shall be maintained. 4 Solid Waste
Assembly Bill 939 and Senate Bill 1016
The Cali fornia Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, or Assembly Bill 939, esta blished the Integrated Waste Management Board, required the imple mentation of integrated waste management plans, and manda ted that local jurisdictions divert at least 50 percent of all so lid waste generated (from 1990 levels), beginning January 1, 2000, and divert at least 75 percent by 2010. Projects that would have an adverse effect on waste diversion goals are required to include waste diversion mitigation measures to assist in red ucing these impacts to less- than-significant levels. With the p assage of S enate Bill 1016 (th e Per Capita Disposal Me asurement System) in 2 006, only per capita disposal rates are measur ed to determine if a jurisdiction’s efforts are meeting the intent of A ssembly Bill 939. Therefore, the 50 percent diversion requireme nt should b e measured in terms of per -capita disposal exp ressed as pounds pe r person per day.
4 California Water Boards, Plans and Policies - Antidegradation, 2022. Available online at:
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/plans_policies/antidegradation.html, accessed on May 3, 2022.
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Assembly Bill 341 and Senate Bill 1383
The purpose of AB 341 of 2011 (Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011) is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by diverting comm ercial solid waste to recyclin g efforts and to expand the opportunity for additional recycling services and recycling manufacturing facilities in California. In addition to Mandatory Commercial Recy cling, AB 341 sets a statewide goal for 75 percent disposa l reduction by the year 2020.
SB 1383 of 2016 (Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) established the following goals: a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from 201 4 levels by 2020, and a 75 -percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from 2014 lev els by 2025. This bill also authorized CalRecycle to adopt regulations, to take effect on or after January 1, 2022, to achieve these targets.
Assembly Bill 1826
AB 1826 of 2014 (Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014) requires businesses that generate a specified a mount of organic waste per week to arrange for recycling services for that waste, and for jurisdictions to implement a recycling program to d ivert organic waste from businesses subject to the law, as well as re port to CalRecycle on their progress in imp lementing an organic waste recycling program. As of January 1, 2017, businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of organic waste per week shall arrange for organic waste recycling services.
3.13.2.3 Regional and Local
Water Supply
The Plan Area is in t he City’s Water Utility Division service area. The City’s Conservation Ordinance (Ordinance No. 1851, adopted on March 12, 1991, and amended p er Ordinance No. 1868), describes a phased water conservat ion p rogram to b e implement ed in times of water scarci ty. To meet the State Water Resources Control Board's (SWRCB) mandatory conservation requirements, the City enacted a Phase I Water Shortage Pla n on July 22, 2014, under the authority of the conservation ordinance (Section 23-1.32(e)(2) of the Compton Munic ipal Code). The Phase I Water Shortage Plan institutes various mandatory conservation measures, such as prohibiting the hose washing of sidewalks and walkways and restricting lawn and landscape irrigation. These measures remain in effect.
City of Compton General Plan
Applicable goals and policies from the Public Facilities Element of the Compton General Plan related to water are provided below:
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Goal 4.0: Maintain a consistent level of quality water and sewer services.
Policy 4.1: Work closely with local water agencies in determining future area needs Policy 4.2: Identify and implement water conservation programs.
Policy 4.3: Encourage the use of drought -resistant landscaping to reduce overall City water use.
Urban Water Management Plan
The 2015 UWMP serves as a long-range planning document for the City of Compton service area. The UWMP contains the same types of water supply and demand projections that would be included in a WSA, and this document is the refore an ap propriate resource to use in developing the i mpact analysis provided below.
Municipal Code
The City has mandatory conservation r equirements that can be implemented at any time per Conservation Ordinance No. 1851 (1991); per Section 23- 1.32(e)(2) of the Compton Municipal Code, Phase I Water Shortage Plan stipulates the following mandatory restrictions:
• There shall be no hose washi ng of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas or other paved surfaces, except as is required for sanitary purposes; Use a broom instead. • Washing of motor vehicles, tr ailers, boats and other types of mobile equipment shall be done only with a handheld bucket or a hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses, except that washing may be done at the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or with reclaimed water. • No water shall be used to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains, ponds, lakes or other similar aesthetic structures unless such water is part of a recycling system. • No restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale, shall serve drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested. • All customers of the Compto n Water Utility Division shall promptly repair all leaks f rom indoor or outdoor plumbing fixtures.
• No lawn, landscape, or other turf area shall be watered more often than every other day . Specifically, all customers with an even address number shall water on even calendar dates of the month, and all
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customers with an odd add ress number shall water on odd calendar da tes of the month. On the thirty-first (31st) of the month, there shall be no watering, unless reclaimed water is used. • No watering shall be done between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; except tha t the provision shall not apply to commercial nurseries, golf courses and other water-dependent industries. • No customer of the Compton Water Utility Division shall cause or allow the water to run of f landscape area into adjoining streets, sidewalks or o ther paved area s due to incorrect ly directed or maintained sprinklers or excessive watering.
Wastewater
City of Compton General Plan
Goal 4.0: Maintain a consistent level of quality water and sewer services.
Policy 4.3: Utilize reclaimed wastewater irriga ting public and priv ate lands wherever possible.
Policy 4.5: Coordinate with local water agencies the replacement of water and sewer facilities with other City capital improvement projects.
Policy 4.6: Ensure that adequate water and sewer service is avai lable as redevelopment occurs.
Goal 5.0: Provide necessary storm drainage control
Policy 5.1: Coordinate flood control planning with Los Angeles County Flood Control District.
Solid Waste
County Los Angeles Integrated Waste Management Plan
The County of Los Ang eles Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP) sets forth a regional approach for the management of solid waste through source reduction, recycling and composting, and environmentally safe transformat ion and disposal. The IWMP ensures that the waste m anagement practices of cities and other jurisdictions in the County are consistent with the solid waste diversion goals of AB 939 through source reduction, recycling and composting programs, household haza rdous waste management programs, and public education awar eness programs. The IWMP calls for the establishment
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of 50 years of in-County permitted landfill capacity, as well as the County’s support for the development of disposal facilities out of the Count y. Assessment of potential impacts to utilities and service systems is based on review o f the proposed Specific Pla n, and site conditions, analysis provided in the City of Compton’s current UWMP and City and County information regarding utility- related issues, including water supply and facilities, wastewater facilities, and solid waste.
The County cont inually evalu ates landfill needs and capacity through the preparation of the IWMP annual reports. Within each annual report, future landfill disposal needs over the next 15 - year planning horizon are addressed, in p art, by dete rmining the available landfill c apacity. T he most recent annual report is the 2019 report.5
3.13.3 IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
3.13.3.1 Thresholds of Significance
The following thresholds for determining the significance of impacts r elated to hazard s and hazardous materials are contained in the envir onmental checklist form contained in Appendi x G of the most recent update of the CEQA Guidelines. Adoption a nd/or implementation of the Compton TOD Specific Plan could result in significant impacts regarding utilities and services systems if any of the followin g would occur:
• Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, th e construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects. • Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years.
• Result in a determi nation by t he w astewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the p roject’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments.
• Generate solid waste in excess of State or local st andards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals.
5 County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. 2020. Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan – 2019 Annual Report. Available at:
https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/ShowDoc.aspx?id=14372&hp=yes&type=PDF
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• Comply with federal, state, and loc al management and redu ction statutes and regulations related to solid waste.
3.13.3.2 Methodology
The ana lysis in this section focus es on the potential environmental effec ts of any rel ocation or construction of new or expand ed w ater, wastewater treatment or stormwater drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunica tions facilities. If the Plan would not require the relocation or construction of such facilities, it f ollows that there would not b e a significant environm ental impact. The analysis would also evaluate the Plan ’s potential to exceed available wat er supplies, wastewater capacity, and t he generation of solid waste in excess of capacity or applicable solid waste reduction goals.
3.13.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Impact USS-1 Require or result in the relocation or cons truction of new or expanded water, wastewater t reatment or storm water drainage, electri c power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilitie s, the construction or r elocation of which could cause significant environmental effects.
Less than Significant Impact.
Water Supply
The Plan Area receives water supplies from the City of Compt on, which provides water pumped fro m municipal groundwater wells in the adjudicated Cent ral Basin and imported surface water purchased through Metropolitan Water District (MWD). The local groundwater basin is adjudicated, mea ning that all groundwater use is manag ed p er a court -ordered Adjudication Judgement to ensure l ong-term groundwater supply sustainability. Similarly, imported sur face water delivered to Compton via MWD is managed per allotments of the State Water Project and Colorado River water.
Development u nder the proposed Specific P lan may be more intense than development anticipated for this area in the City curren t General Plan or existing land use in the Plan Area. However, the proposed Specific Plan is intended to be consi stent with and implement the p olicies of the Compton Gener al Plan, including with respe ct to resource availabil ity. In addition, as discussed below, the City relies primarily upon groundwater resources, which are regulated per an Adjudication Judgement, su pplemented by imported surface water resources, which are delivered in agreement with MWD.
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Water demand associa ted with the proposed Specific Plan would result from residential, commercial, office development, and cultural facilities. Table 3.13-5, Estimated Annual P lan Area Water Demand shows the total estimated water demand for the Plan Area upon build out of the Plan Area.
Table 3.13-5
Estimated Annual Plan Area Water Demand
Land Use
Size (sf) or
dwelling
units
Generation Rates
(GPD per 1,000 sf
or du)
Daily Water
Demand
(GPD)
Wastewater
Generation
(AFY)
Commercial 704,874 sf 60 42,292 47.4
Hotel 150 rooms 144 21,600 21.2
Office Building 221,136 sf 144 31,844 35.7
Industrial 298,000 sf 60 17,880 20.0
Institutional 1,425,653 sf 144 205,294 230.0
Residential 5,083 du 180 914,940 1,024.9
Total 1,233,850 1,379
Note: Estimated water demand is assumed to be 120% of wastewater generation. Generation rates available at: https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/sewer-s-permits/technical-procedures/sewage- generation-factors-chart
As shown above, development under the proposed Specific Plan would require approximately 1,379 AFY of water. This would be an incre ase of approximately 340 AFY over the existing annual water demand of 1,039 AFY in the Plan Area. The City’s water supply is obtained from the adjudicated Central Basin, of which the City has a yearly allocation of 5,780 AFY , and from the MWD, which determ ines it s ye arly water supply capability based on the hydrologic history of the State W ater Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct regions.
According t o the City ’s 2015 UWMP, the City concludes that there would be sufficient water supplies during the “ worst-case” effects of a multiple dry year drought . Given that the City of Compton’s water supply is g enerated by the City Water Department as well as MWD, the remain ing capacity of both of these water suppliers would be sufficie nt for implementation of the Sp ecific Plan. As such, the Specific Plan would not require or result in the constructio n of new wat er treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities. Impacts would be less than significant.
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Wastewater
Wastewater in t he Plan Area would be collected by the City’s local system of sewer lines and conveyed through regional trunk lines o perated by t he Lo s Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD). Site - specific sewer lines and supporting infrastructure would be designed an d engineered for each of the project l evel d evelopments to accomm odate wastewater flows. Therefore, the City’s local sewer lines would be expanded or improved on an as -needed basis during imple mentation of each individual development under the Specific Pla n and no major alterations to L ACSD re gional trunk lines are anticipated to be necessary as a result of implementation of the Specific Plan.
Wastewater is collected in Compton via an existing 1 43-mile-long system of sewer lines maintained by the City’s Department of Public Works and Municipal Utilities’ Street Maintenan ce Division. Wastewater collected from the City is c onveyed to the LACSD’s Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP), located at 24501 S Figueroa Street in the City of Cars on. The JWPCP provides both primary and secondar y treatment for approximately 260 million gallons of wastewater per day (MGD) and has a total perm itted capacity of 400 MGD. Treated effluent is then discharged from JWPCP through an ocean outfall.
Table 3.13-6, Specific Plan Wastewater Generation, shows the estim ated wastewater generation from the Specific Plan at buildout.
Table 3.13-6
Specific Plan Wastewater Generation
Land Use
Size (sf) or
dwelling
units
Generation Rates
(GPD per 1,000 sf
or du)
Wastewater
Generation
(GPD)
Commercial 704,874 sf 50 35,244
Hotel 150 rooms 120 18,000
Office Building 221,136 sf 120 26,536
Industrial 298,000 sf 50 14,900
Institutional 1,425,653 sf 120 171,078
Residential 5,083 du 150 762,450
Total 1,028,208
Source: City of Los Angeles. Sewage Generation Factors Chart. Available at:
https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/sewer-s-permits/technical-procedures/sewage-generation-factors- chart, accessed March 29, 2022.
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As indicated above, development under the Specific Plan is expected to generate approximately 1,028,208 gallons per day (or 1.0 3 MGD). However, existing development in the Plan Area currently generates an estimated 0.77 MGD of wastewater; therefore, development under the Specific Plan would generate a net total of 0. 26 MGD. This amou nt acco unts for approximately of 0 .18 percent of JWPCP’s remaining treatment capacity of 143 million gallons per day. Flow pro jections of the Joint Outfall Sy stem through the year 2050 determined that the ca pacity of the JWPCP would remain at 400 MGD average flow in the year 2050 with upstream Water Reclamation Plant expansions. The existing wastewater treatment capacity are therefore anticipated to be sufficie nt to a ccommodate projected development. With adherence to applicable regulations and General Plan policies, implementation of the Specific Plan would have adequate wastewater conveyance systems and impacts related to wastew ater conveyance would be less than significant.
Electric Power
Electricity servic es in the Plan Area are provided by Southern Cali fornia Edison (SCE). Development under the Specific Plan may require site -specific modification to some existing electrical distribution systems. This service would be provided in accordance with the rules a nd regulations of SCE on file with and approved by Calif ornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). It is not anticipated that existing transmission lines would need to be modif ied as a result of the development unde r the Specific Plan.
Potential impacts would be less than significant.
Natural Gas
Natural gas ser vices in the Plan Area are provided by So CalGas, which is regulated by the CPUC.
Development under the Specific Plan may include construction of new natural gas pipelines or expansion of existing pipe lines, as needed to accommodate development in the Plan Area. When needed, construction of natural gas transmission pipelines would occur within developed areas, such as stree t corridors, that already contain underground utility infrastructure. Given the u rbanized nature of the Plan Area, it is unlikely that construction of any natural gas system upgrades would result in significant environmental impacts.
Telecommunications Facilities
Implementation of the pr oposed Specific Plan requires provision of new and upgraded utility infrastructure to meet the needs of s ite residents and tenants. Improvements include telephone and cable lines, which are typically co -located with existing energy lines. Telephone and cab le utility plans would be submitted concurrent wi th the final plans for each proposed project. When neede d, construction of telecommunications lines would occur in the Plan Area to serve anticipated development. Given the
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urbanized nature of the Plan Area, construction of any telecommunications infrastru cture would result in less than significant environmental impacts.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
Impact USS-2 Have sufficient wa ter s upplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years.
Less than Significant.
The City’s 2015 UWMP assesses the reliability of identified water supplie s during normal, single-dry, and multiple-dry water years. As shown in Table 3.13 -5, Estimated Annual Plan Area Water Demand , the Specific Plan would require approximately 1,379 AFY of water. However, existing development currently requires 1,039 AFY of water. Therefore, development under the Specific Plan would have a net increase of 340 AFY of water.
As shown under Table 3. 13-1, Compton Water Utility Division Water De mand and Supply , during a single dry year under the worst -case scenario , the City wo uld n eed to utili ze water supplies fro m the Central Basin Municipal Water District and MWD, which can provide additional surplus supplies to meet demands. Furthermore, the 2015 UWMP outlines a Water Shortage Contingency Plan w hich would reduce demand and prevent the need for the use of additio nal surplus. Similar measures wo uld also be taken during the event of a worst -case multiple dry year scenario. As such , the City ’s 2015 UWMP concludes that there would be sufficient water supp lies during the “worst-case” ef fects of a single and multiple dry year drought. Given that the City of Compton’s water supply is generated by the City Water Department as well as MWD, the remaini ng capacity of both of these water suppliers would be sufficient for implementation of the Specific Plan and impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
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Impact USS-3 Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment pr ovider which serves or may serve the project that it has ad equate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments.
As noted under Impact U SS-1, The JWPC P provides both primary and secondary treatment for approximately 260 million gallons of wastewater per day (MG D) and has a total permitted capacity of 400 MGD. The existing wastewater treatment capacity are therefore anticipated to be suffic ient to accommodate proje cted development. With adheren ce to applic able regulations and Gene ral Plan policies, implementation of the Specific Plan would have adequate wastewater conveyance systems and impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
Impact USS-4 Generate solid waste in excess of State or local stand ards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals.
Solid waste generated in the Plan Area would be transported to Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar for disposal. The Sunshine Canyon Landfill has a has a max throughput capacity of 12,100 tons per day . The Sunshine Canyon Landfill has a permitted capacity of 140,900,000 cubic yards, with a remaining capacity of approximately 77,900,000 cubic yards. Table 3.13-7, S pecific Plan Projected Solid Waste Gen eration, shows the projected solid waste generation for the Plan Area after buildout.
Table 3.13-7
Specific Plan Projected Solid Waste Generation
Land Use Quantity Generation
Rate
Solid Waste Generation
Pounds per
day Tons per day Cubic yards
per day1
Commercial 704,874 sf 0.005 lbs//sf/day 3,712 1.86 3.71 Hotel 150 rooms 2.0 lbs/room/day 300 0.15 0.30
Office 221,136 sf 0.006 lbs/sf/day 1,327 0.66 1.33
Industrial 298,000 sf 0.006 lbs/sf/day 1,788 0.89 1.79
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Land Use Quantity Generation
Rate
Solid Waste Generation
Pounds per
day Tons per day Cubic yards
per day1
Institutional 1,425,653 sf 0.007 lbs/sf/day 9,980 4.99 9.98 Residential 5,083 units 12.23 lbs/unit/day 62,165 31.08 62.17 Total 79,272 39.64 79.27
Existing Uses2 59,842 29.93 59.84
Net Total 19,430 9.71 19.43
1 Conversion factor assumed to be 1,000 pounds per cubic yard. 2 See Table 3.13-5, which provides solid waste generation for existing uses in the Plan Area.
Source for generation rates based on CalRecycle. Available at https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/wastecharacterization/general/rates
Development under the p roposed Specific Plan would generate 79,272 pounds of solid waste per day, or
39.64 tons of s olid waste per day. However, as calculated in Table 3.13-7, the existing la nd uses in the Plan Area ge nerate 59,842 pounds per day, or 29.93 tons per day. Therefore, the net increas e in solid waste generation under the Specific Plan would be an increase of 19,430 pounds per day, or 9.71 tons per day. This in crease would account f or approximately 0.8 percen t of t he maximum daily throughput of 12,100 tons per day at the Sunshine Canyon Landfill. Furthermore, the Specific Plan would generate a net increase of 19.43 cubic yards per day, or about 7,092 cubic yards per ye ar upon buildout of the Specific Plan. This would account for less than 0.01 percent of the remaining capacity at the Sunshine Canyon Landfill. Assuming full buildout under the Specific Plan, after 5 , 10, and 20 years, the Specific Plan would have a solid waste generation of 35,460 cubic yards, 70,920 cubic yards, and 141,840 cubic yards , respectively. This would account for approximately 0.05 percent, 0.09 percent, and 0.18 percent of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill ’s remaining capacity of 77,900,000 cubic yards. Therefore, solid waste generated under the proposed Specific Plan would not exceed available capacity. Impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
Impact USS-5 C omply with federal, state, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste.
Less than Significant.
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The City is required by AB 939 to divert 75 percent of solid waste from landfills projects developed under the Specific Plan would be required to demo nstrate compliance with all applicable regulations including AB 939. The Specific Plan would not in terfere with any federal, state, or local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste. Impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Residual Impacts
Impacts would be less than significant.
3.13.5 CUMULATIVE ANALYSIS
In development of its 2015 UWMP, the City coordinated with the County of Los Angeles Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD), and the MWD . As discussed in Section 3.13.1.1, the courts have assigned specific water rights to wa ter users within the Central Basin via an Adjudication Judgement . As discussed under Impact USS -1, the Central Basin is adjudicated, meaning tha t all groundwater use is managed per a court -ordered Adjudication Judgement to ensure long- term groundwater sup ply sustainability. As shown under Table 3. 13-1, Compton Water Utility Division Water Demand and Supply, during single and multiple dry year worst-case scenarios, the City would need to utilize water supplies from the CBMWD and MWD . F urthermore, the 2015 UWMP outlines a Water Shortage Contingency Plan w hich would reduce deman d and prevent the need for the use of addi tional surplus.
According to the CBMWD and MWD mos t recent UWMPs, both wholesalers for the City, they wou ld have sufficient water supplies during single dry and multiple dry year sc enarios.6,7 As such, the additional supplies required, if ne cessary, during single dry and multiple dry year scenarios, would not be cumulatively considerable and impacts would be less than significant.
As noted above, w astewater is collected in Compton via an existing 143 -mile-long system of sewer lines maintained by the Cit y’s Department of Public Works and Municipal Utilities’ Street Maintenance Division. Wastewater collected from the City is conveyed to the LACSD’s Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) . The JWPCP provi des prima ry and secondary tr eatment for a design capa city of 400
6 Central Basin Municipal Water District. 2021. Urban Water Management Plan – 2020. Available at:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/public/uwmp_attachments/3596585929/CBMWD%20Final%202020%20UWMP_202 1-06-30.pdf, accessed A pril 1, 2022.
7 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. 2021. Urban Water Management Plan – 2020. Available at:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/public/uwmp_attachments/5202375113/MWDSC%202020%20Urban%20Water%20 Management%20Plan%20-%20June%202021%20WUE%20Portal.pdf, accessed A pril 1, 2022.
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million gallons of wastewater per day. The JWPCP is part of a network of seven treatment plans and over 1,200 miles of trunk sewers known as the Joint Outfall System (JOS), which provides regional wastewater treatment for Los Ang eles County, co vering an extensive area that includes 73 cities and unincorporated county territory. 8 With respect to future growth i n the JWPCP service area and associated increases in wastewater treatment demand s, continued i mplementation of system impro vements tha t fo llow the guidance of the City of Los Angeles Regional, Sanitary Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) would ensure sufficient conveyance and treatment capacity to meet cumulative needs. Funding for such increases is available through a combina tion of connect ion fees paid by developers, service districts, and general fund monies. Compliance with these requirements would redu ce cumulative impacts to wastewater treatment and collection systems to a less than signific ant level and the Specific Plan’s contribution to wastewater service impacts would not be cumulatively considerable.
Planned and pending development in the Specific Plan area would continue to increase solid waste generation. As discussed under Impact USS- 4, area landfills have capacity to accommod ate additional solid waste, and potential impacts of full buildout of the Specific Plan would be less than significant.
Cumulatively, other areas which utilize the same landfills as the proposed Specific Plan would likely also continue to exper ience growth and associated incr eases in solid waste generation. State mandated solid waste diversion rates (for recycling) would con tinue to minimize the quantity of waste directed to area landfills, and compliance with Gene ral Plan and Specific Plan policies would m aintain or i mprove upon existing solid waste diversion rates. The S unshine Canyon Landfill is expected to remain open wit h sufficient disposal capacity to accommodate it existing service territory. The Los Angeles Integrated Waste Management Pl an includes str ategies f or meeti ng disposal capacity at both landfills, including increased waste diversion and potential expansion of landfill capacity. Solid waste disposal facilities and management approach would continue to adjust as needed to provide adequate dis posal capaci ty throughout the county. Thus, cumulative impacts to solid waste facilities would be less than significant and the Specific Plan’s contribution to solid waste impacts would not be cumulatively conside rable.
3.13.6 REFERENCES
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). 2018. “Waste Evaluation and Enforcement Branch Staff Report. Summary of the City of Compton’s Compliance Review and Consideration of the Issuance Compliance Order CO 018-002.”
8 Los Angeles County Sanitation District. Wastewater Treatment Process at JWPCP. Available at:
https://www.lacsd.org/services/wastewater-sewage/facilities/joint-water-pollution-control-plant/wastewater- treatment-process-at-jwpcp, accessed Mar ch 23, 2022.
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Central Basin Municipal Water District. 2021. Urban Water Management Plan – 2020. Available at:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/public/uwmp_attachments/3596585929/CBMWD%20Final%202020 %20UWMP_2021-06-30.pdf, accessed April 1, 2022.
City of Compton. 2015. 2015 Urban Water Management Plan. Available at:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/public/uwmp_attachments/7983976066/Compton2015UWMP.FullP l an.pdf, accessed F ebruary 4, 2022.
City of Los Angeles. Sewage Generation Factors Chart. Available at:
https://engpermitmanual.lacity.org/sewer-s-permits/technical-procedures/sewage-generation- factors-chart, accessed March 29, 2022.
County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. 2020. Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan – 2019 Annual Report. Available at:
https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/ShowDoc.aspx?id=14372&hp=yes&type= PDF Los Angeles County Sanitation District. Wastewater Treatment Process at JWPCP. Available at:
https://www.lacsd.org/services/wastewater-sewage/facilities/joint-water-pollution-control- plant/wastewater-treatment-process-at-jwpcp, accessed March 23, 2022.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. 2021. Urban Water Management Plan – 2020.
Available at:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/public/uwmp_attachments/5202375113/MWDSC%202020%20Urban %20Water%20Management%20Plan%20-%20June%202021%20WUE%20Portal.pdf, accessed April 1, 2022.
SoCalGas. Company Profile. Available at: https://www.socalgas.com/about-us/company-profile, accessed March 17, 2022.
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4.0 ALTERNATIVES
INTRODUCTION
This section of the program environmental impact report (EIR) provides a comparative analysis of the merits of alternatives to the proposed project pursuant to Section 15124.6 of the 2022 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statutes and Guidelines , as amended. According to the guidelines, an EIR shall describe a range of reasonable alternatives to the project or to its location, which would feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project but avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects. The EIR shall evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives. It need not consider every conceivable alternative to a project; rather, it must consider a reasonable range of potentially feasible alternatives that will foster informed decision making and public participation.
4.1 CONSIDERATIONS
The range of alternatives in an EIR is governed by a “rule of reason” that requires the EIR to set forth only those alternatives necessary to make a reasoned choice. The alternatives shall be limited to ones that would avoid or substantially lessen any significant effects of the project (Section 15124.6(f)). Of those alternatives, the EIR need examine in detail only the ones that the lead agency determines could feasibly attain most of the project’s basic objectives. The range of feasible alternatives shall be selected and discussed in a manner to foster meaningful public participation and informed decision making. When addressing feasibility, the State CEQA Guidelines state that “ among the factors that may be taken into account when addressing the feasibility of alternatives are site suitability, economic viability, availability of infrastructure, general plan consistency, other pl ans or regulatory limitations, jurisdictional boundaries (projects with a regionally significant impact should consider the regional context), and whether the proponent can reasonably acquire, control or otherwise have access to the alternative site (or th e site is already owned by the proponent).” The State CEQA Guidelines also state that the alternative discussion need not be presented in the same level of detail as the assessment of the proposed project.
Therefore, several factors need to be considered in determining the range of alternatives to be analyzed in an EIR and the level of detail that analysis should provide. These factors include (1) the nature of the significant impacts of the proposed project, (2) the ability of alternatives to avoid or substantially lessen impacts associated with the project, (3) the ability of the alternatives to meet most of the basic objectives of the project, and (4) the feasibility of the alternatives.
The selection and discussion of alternatives is intended to foster meaningful public participation and informed decision making. An EIR need not consider an alternative whose effect cannot be reasonably ascertained and whose implementation is remote and speculative. The State CEQA Guidelines also require Impact Sciences 4.0-2 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
the analysis of a no project alternative, and the identification of the environmentall y superior alternative.
Where the environmentally superior alternative is the no project alternative, the EIR shall also identify an environmentally superior alternative among the other alternatives.” 1 In addition, the State CEQA Guidelines require an EIR to identify any alternatives that were considered by the lead agency but were rejected as infeasible during the scoping process and briefly explain the reasons underlying the lead agency’s determination.
2 Accordingly, several alternatives that might avoid or substantially lessen project impacts were considered.
Three alternatives were selected for further analysis, as detailed below.
4.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The alternatives to the project ultimately selected for analysis in this PEIR were developed to avoid or substantially lessen one or more of the significant environmental impacts associated with the project, while still attaining most of the basic objectives of the project. The following are objectives fo r the project:
• An economically active and vibrant station area which attracts investment and provides quality amenities to the community.
• A safe and well-maintained Downtown where people enjoy public space. • A built environment and programming which reflect the history, creativity and excellence of Compton. • A station area which promotes public health and sustainability and provides calm and attractive networks for circulating without cars.
• Adequate and affordable housing that enables the residents of Compton to remain in the community for the long-term.
• Increased opportunities for Compton residents to create and grow local businesses.
4.3 SELECTION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR ANALYSIS
According to the State CEQA Guidelines , the discussion of alternatives should focus on alternatives to a project or its location that can feasibly avoid or substantially lessen the significant effects of the project. The State CEQA Guidelines indicate that the range of alternatives included in this discussion should be sufficient
1 State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(e)(2)
2 State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(c)
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to allow decision makers a reasoned choice. The alternative discussion should provide decision makers with an understanding of the merits and disadvantages of these alternatives.
Section 3.0, Environmental Impact Analysis , concludes that project implementation w ould result in significant and unavoidable environmental impacts. These impacts include:
Air Quality: Implementation of the Specific Plan would result in a cumulatively considerable net increase in emissions of criteria air pollutants during operation (Impact AQ-2).
Noise: Implementation of the Specific Plan would result in temporary increases in ambient noise in the Plan Area on an intermittent basis during construction and, as such, would expose nearby sensitive receptors both in and adjacent to the Plan Area to increased noise levels as a result of construction activity and increased traffic noise ( Impact NOI-1). Construction activities in the Plan Area would intermittently generate vibration that exceeds the residential annoyance threshold (Impact NOI -2). Impacts would be cumulatively significant.
The City of Compton has developed and considered the following alternatives to the project.
Alternative 1 – No Project/General Plan
Section 15126(2)(4) of the State CEQA Guidelines requires eval uation of the No Project Alternative.
As described in the State CEQA Guidelines, the purpose of describing and analyzing the No Project Alternative is to allow decision makers to compare the impacts of approving the project with the impacts of not approving the project. However, “no project” does not necessarily mean that development will be prohibited. The No Project Alternative includes “what would be reasonably expected to occur in the foreseeable future if the project were not approved, based on current plans and consistent with available infrastructure and community services.”
3 For purposes of this PEIR, the No Project/General Plan Alternative (Alternative 1) assumes buildout within the specific plan area would occur in accordance with the land uses included in the City’s 1990 General Plan (General Plan) and implemented by the City’s Zoning Code. The Zoning Code carries out the General Plan policies by regulating development and land uses within the City, consistent with the General Plan.
Under this alternative the increased housing density opportunities and expanded mix of commercial, office, and hotel related land uses proposed in the Specific Plan would not be achieved. Thus, the N o Project/General Plan Alternative assumes that without the Specific Plan in place to change the underlying land uses, the land uses reflected in the General Plan would be developed, resulting in less development.
3 CEQA § 15126.6[e][2]
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Alternative 2 – Reduced Residential Growth
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative (Alternative 2) assumes that the Specific Plan would be adopted, with 978 multi-family units as oppose d to 2,178 multi-family units in the proposed project. This reduction in the number of multi -family units assumes the two shopping center sites Renaissance Center and Town Center are not redeveloped with residential uses. Additional non-residential growth, as well as landscaping and transportation improvements associated with the Specific Plan would be implemented as proposed.
Alternative 3 – Ideal Urban Form Alternative
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative (Alternative 3) assumes that the Specific Plan would be adopted, with 2,970 multi-family units as opposed to 2,178 multi-family units in the proposed project. This increase in the number of units assumes additional density to be developed on the opportunity sites , such as the Renaissance Center, the Civic Center, the Town Center, 409 N Alameda St, 398 N Willowbrook Ave, 117- 215 N Willow brook Ave, 458 S. Alameda St, and 600 N. Alameda St. No changes would be made to the Specific Plan’s proposed land uses, design guidelines, development standards, policies, or goals.
Alternatives Considered but Not Evaluated in Detail
In accordance with Se ction 15126.6(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines , an EIR should identify alternatives considered for analysis but rejected as infeasible, and briefly explain the reasons for their elimination.
Among the factors that may be used to eliminate alternatives from detailed consideration in an EIR is failure to meet most of the basic project objectives, infeasibility, or inability to avoid or substantially reduce significant environmental impacts. The Alternative Site Alternative was considered but rejected as infeasible. A brief explanation of the alternative is below.
Alternative Site Alternative
Under the Alternative Site Alternative, development of the Specific Plan would not be focused around the Compton TOD station and instead would be buildout on a separate site . Thus, proposed development associated with the Specific Plan would not be located within close proximity to a TOD site and a majority of the Specific Plan’s objectives would not be realized.
An alternative site location would not meet the Specific Plan objectives listed below:
• An economically active and vibrant station area which attracts investment and provides quality amenities to the community.
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• A safe and well-maintained Downtown where people enjoy public space. • A b uilt environment and programming which reflect the history, creativity and excellence of Compton.
• A station area which promotes public health and sustainability and provides calm and attractive networks for circulating without cars.
• Adequate and affordable housing that enables the residents of Compton to remain in the community for the long-term.
• Increased opportunities for Compton residents to create and grow local businesses.
4.4 ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY
Each of the alternatives selected for analysis is evaluated in sufficient detail to determine whether its overall environmental impacts would be less, similar, or greater in comparison to the impacts of the Specific Plan .
The impact analyses sections for the Specific Plan set forth in Section 3.0 of this PEIR include mitigation measures that reduce the environmental impacts associated with buildout of the Specific Plan. The analysis assumes that equally effective mitigation measures would apply to the alternatives.
The analysis under each Alternative includes the following:
• An evaluation of the environmental impacts anticipated to occur for each environmental issue analyzed in Section 3.0 of this PEIR and a determination as to the significance of those impacts. This discussion also includes an analysis of wheth er the Alternatives would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant environmental impacts associated with implementation of the Specific Plan . Where the impacts of the alternative and the Specific Plan were roughly equivalent the comparative impact is said to be similar.
• A summary of the comparative impacts across all of the environmental issues.
4.5 COMPARATIVE IMPACT ANALYSIS
Alternative 1 – No Project/General Plan
Aesthetics
Under the No Project/General Plan Alternative less development would occur within the specific plan area compared to the project. Development would continue as allowed under the General Plan and existing Impact Sciences 4.0-6 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
zoning. The No Project Alternative does not include the same visual thematic elements that are included within the Specific Pla n and development under the No Project Alternative would not be as visually appealing or cohesive as with the project . However, less development and density would result in fewer visual impacts than the Specific Plan. Visual impacts under Alternative 1 would be less than significant.
Air Quality
The No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in less development compared to the Specific Plan.
As less construction would occur , fewer emissions would be generated during construction of individual development projects. Due to the reduced amount of construction, construction emissions would not be expected to exceed significance thresholds and construction-related impacts would be less than significant.
The No Project/General Plan Alternative would generate fewer operational emissions compared to the Specific Plan because fewer residents would be within the Plan area, however, the City is located in a non- attainment area for P M10 and PM2.5, thus operational impacts from toxic air contaminants (TACs) could be potentially significant . Additionally, the No Project/General Plan Alternative would not be subject to Mitigation Measure AQ-1. As development under the No Project/General Plan Alternative would be less than the project, Alternative 1 would also not conflict with the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). As less development is proposed under the General Plan (compared to the Specific Plan ), a ir quality operational impacts would be slightly less under Alternative 1 but would still remain significant and unavoidable. Construction and operation impacts would be less than the Specific Plan.
Cultural Resources including Tribal Cultural Resources
Under the No Project/General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would proceed in accordance with the land uses included in the General Plan. No specific historical resources have been identified within the Plan area. Development, specifically grading, would have the potential unearth archaeological, paleontological and/or tribal cultural resources . As the permitted amount of development under General Plan would be less (compared to the amount of development proposed in the Specific Plan), it is likely that the number of potential impacts would also de crease. Similar to the Specific Plan, specific projects under the No Project /General Plan Alternative would still be reviewed for consistency with the General Plan policies as well as all applicable state and federal regulations. Impacts to cultural resources associated with implementation of the General Plan were determined to be less than significant by adherence to and/or compliance with the goals, policies, and actions included in the General Plan.
Therefore, similar to the Specific Plan, impacts to cultural resources under Alternative 1 would be less than significant.
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Energy
Implementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in energy consumption (including electricity, n atural gas, and petroleum -fuel), but would not result in the wasteful or inefficient use of energy. It is expected that land use designatio ns under the General Plan would be constructed in accordance with Title 24 requirements and therefore would include energy efficiency measures. However, under Alternative 1, individual development projects would not be focused around transit or be required to include the energy saving measures to the same extent as the project, which would further reduce vehicle traffic (quantified as vehicle miles travelled (VMT) ) in and around the specific plan area . While it is expected that energy impacts associated with the No Project/General Plan Alternative would be less than significant, this alternative would not include the energy reduction measures and proposed dense r land use designations included in the Specific Plan , which would promote a reductio n in vehicle use, reducing the energy use associated with vehicle transportation. Thus, the No Project/General Plan Alternative energy impacts would be comparatively greater than impacts associated with buildout of the Specific Plan .
Greenhouses Gases
Implementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would generate fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the project. It is expected that land use designations under the General Plan would be consistent with AB 32 , SB 32, and SB 375 and futu re development would be required to abide by regulations adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to ensure GHG emissions are reduced to 1990 levels by 20 30. In addition, as discussed in the General Plan Draft EIR, individual development projects under the No Project/General Plan Alternative would meet the TOD Program goal to reduce GHG emissions by encouraging infill development near transit , although not to the same extent as under the project. The recommended goals and policies included in th e General Plan would apply under the No Project/General Plan Alternative and individual development projects would comply with AB 32 , SB 32, SB 375, and the TOD Program, resulting in less than significant impacts, similar to the project.
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
The amount of development permitted within the specific plan area would be reduced under the No Project/General Plan Alternative. Individual development projects under Alternative 1 would be required to comply with the General Plan goals and policies, the Compton Municipal Code, as well as all applicable state and federal regulations. Thus impacts under the No Project /General Plan Alternative related to the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials, the accidental releas e of hazardous materials, hazardous emissions within on e-quarter mile of an existing school, development within the City potentially located on a hazardous materials site, interference with an adopted emergency response plan Impact Sciences 4.0-8 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
or evacuation plan, and the exp osure of people or structures to a significant risk involving wildland fires would all remain less than significant. Impacts related to hazards and hazardous m aterials under the No Project/General Plan Alternative would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Hydrology and Water Quality
Under the No Project/General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would precede in accordance with the General Plan land use designations. Individual development projects under the No Project/General Plan Alternative would still be required to comply with the General Plan policies, the Compton Municipal Code, and all applicable state and federal regu lations. Similar to buildout of the Specific Plan, construction activities under Alternative 1 could result in potentially significant impacts to water quality and could exceed the surrounding waterways total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Under the No Project/General Plan Alternative c onstruction activities would be subject to compliance with the State General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit and the provisions in the MS4 Permit addressing control of construction phase water impacts. In addition, each development project would be required to submit a Hydrology/Hydraulic Report, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), and Standard Urban Stormwater Management Plan (SUSMP), if applicable, and provide appropriate on -site mitigation measures. Thus, impacts under Alternative 1 related to hydrology and water quality would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Land Use
Under the No Project /General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would pr ecede in accordance with the General Plan land use designations. Impl ementation of Alternative 1 would not physically divide an established community, conflict with applicable federal or state agency policies and regulations, or conflict with local plans, policies, and regulations. Although buildout of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would not physically divide a community, the proposed street improvements to Willowbrook Avenue, Alameda East, and Compton Boulevard to improve connection and mobility would not be realized under this alternative. Under the No Project/General Plan Alternative, no street improvements are proposed, and the area’s connectivity would remain the same . The No Project/General Plan Alternative would not physically divide the community. Thus, impacts related to land use under the No Project Alternative would be less than significant and similar to the project.
Noise
Under the No Project /General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would proceed in accordance with the General Plan land use designations. S imilar to the proj ect, specific proj ects under Alternative 1 would be required to comply with the General Plan p olicies and actions, the Compton Impact Sciences 4.0-9 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
Municipal Code, as well as all applicable state and federal regulations. Impacts related to noise would be less than significant. Similarly, impacts related to vibration would be reduced as fewer buildings would be constructed overall. As buildout of the General Plan would result in less development, construction and operation noise related impacts and vibration related impacts would be less than the project.
Population, Housing and Employment
Under the No Project /General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would proceed in accordance with the General Plan land use designations and Connect SoCal. As described in Section 3.10 Population and Housing , a ccording to SCAG’s growth forecasts, the City is projected to grow by approximately 2,032 people and 982 households. The Plan area is projected to grow by approximately 305 people and 116 households. This future development would be subject to compliance with the General Plan goals and policies and would not require substantial development of unplanned or unforeseen public services and utility/service systems. Similar to the project, the No Project/General Plan Alternative would not result in the removal of existing residential uses and thus, the displacement of residents and/or existing residential units would not occur. Implementation of Alternative 1 would not result in significan t impacts from substantial population growth in the area, either directly or indirectly, nor would it result in the displacement of large numbers of existing housing units and or people. However, this alternative would not help the region achieve its housi ng goals as identified by SCAG. Nonetheless, impacts would be less than significant, similar to the project.
Public Services
Fire
Under the No Project /General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would proceed in accordance with the General Plan land use designations. New development associated with the buildout of Alternative 1 would be required to comply with all applicable County and City fire code and ordinance requirements for construction, access, water mains, fire flows, and hydrants. Individual projects would be reviewed by the Compton Fire Department to determine the specific fire requirements applicable to the individual projects and to ensure compliance with these requirements.
Additionally, the General Plan includes policies and actions to ensure adequate resources are available to respond to health, fire, and police emergencies, and that the L ACoFD is actively involved in the review of development projects to ensure the development would comply with building code requirements. The City also supports coordination with public safety agencies to ensure that adequate fire protection is provided to Compton. This ensures that new developme nt, including that under the No Project/General Plan Alternative, would not reduce the staffing, response times, or service levels within the City. As a result of Impact Sciences 4.0-10 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
the reduced population growth under Alternative 1, impacts to fire services will be less than significant and reduced compared to the proposed project.
Police
Under the No Project /General Plan Alternative, buildout of the specific plan area would proceed in accordance with the General Plan land use designations and any increase in demand for police protection services would occur gradually as additional development and associated population growth is added to the City. As individual projects are proposed within the City, the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department service levels and staffing requirements would be evaluated to determine if additional staffing and/or facilities would be required. Impact fees from new development would be used to offset any impacts to sheriff services.
Further, the General Plan includes policies and actions to ensure that adequate police protection is available to serve existing and future development and population. The General Plan also supports proactive approaches to address public safety through collaboration with the communit y and other agencies and through environmental design, which would further reduce impacts.
Individual projects developed under the No Project/General Plan Alternative would be required to comply with the General Plan policies and actions, and the Compton Municipal Code, as well as all applicable state and federal regulations. As a result of the reduced population growth under Alternative 1, impacts to police services will be less than significant and less than the Specific Plan.
Education
As described in S ection 3.10 Population and Housing , according to SCAG’s growth forecasts, the City is projected to grow by approximately 2,032 people and 982 households. The Plan area is projected to grow by approximately 305 people and 116 households. Using the State-wide factor as described in Section 3.11.3, Public Services: Public Schools, the No Project/General Plan Alternative would add approximately 226 elementary school students, 59 middle school students, and 128 high school students, totaling an additional 412 students to be added to the Compton Unified School District by 2040. This would be less than what is proposed by the Specific Plan. Further , development of individual projects would be subject to California Government Code Section 65995, which would allow CUSD to collect impact fees from developers of new residential and commercial space. Conformance to California Government Code Section 65995 is deemed to provide full and complete mitigation of impacts to school facilities. The No Project Alternative would also be required to comply with the General Plan policies and actions, and all applicable state and federal regulations. As a result of the reduced population growth under Alternative 1, impacts to educational facilities will be less than significant and less than the Specific Plan.
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Library Services
Similar to the Specific Plan , development associated with implementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in additional demands on existing library services. The No Project/General Plan Alternative will result in substantially less development than the Specific Plan. However, u nlike the Specific Plan, the No Project/General Plan alternative does not include the development of a library/cultural center/museum to accommodate the increa se in demands for library services. The No Project Alternative would also be required to comply with the General Plan policies and actions, and all applicable state and federal regulations. Therefore, similar to the Specific Plan, impacts under the No Proj ect/General Plan Alternative related to library facilities would be less than significant.
Parks and Recreation
The City is c urrently experiencing a park deficit with only 76 acres of parkland in the City resulting in a park ratio of 0.6 acres per 1,000 residents, well below the Quimby Act and national standards. While the No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in less development than the Specific Plan, it would also not implement the design measures and policies that would help offset the park d eficiencies. As a result, impacts to park facilities will be incrementally greater than the Specific Plan. However, similar to the Specific Plan, all new development projects are expected to meet the currently adopted requirements of the CMC through the provision of park space, on-site improvements, and/or, the payment of in -lieu fees. The City has determined these fees are adequate to offset the impact of residential units on existing parks . The fees collected would be used for acquisition, development, and improvement of public parks and recreation facilities throughout the City. Therefore, the future development project s under the No Project/General Plan Alternative would not create capacity or service level problems or result in substantial physical impacts associated with the provision or new or altered parks facilities. While impacts to recreational services will be greater under Alternative 1, s imilar to the Specific Plan, impacts would be less than significant.
Transportation
Although the No Project/ General Plan Alternative would result in less development compared to the Specific Plan , the No Project / General Plan Alternative would not include the TOD policies and development patterns included in the Specific Plan. Development would not be fo cused around Compton Station, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities would not be implemented. As a result, the No Project/General Plan Alternative would lead to increased VMT and hours in congestion as compared to the Specific Plan and a drop in transit and active mode shares. Impacts would be greater than the Specific Plan and potentially significant.
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Utilities and Services
Water Supply
Although the No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in less development than compared to the Specific Pla n, implementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would allow for additional development, potentially resulting in an increase in the City’s population, and thus, an overall increase in total water demand. The City of Compton Water Utility District ( CWUD) provides the City and surrounding area with potable water. Water is also purchased through Metropolitan Water District (MWD). The Department relies on surface and groundwater supplies to serve its residents and businesses.
The City’s 2015 Urban Wate r Management Plan (UWMP) provides a long -range assessment of water supply for the Department’s service area. The 2015 UMPA concluded that there would be sufficient water supplies during the “worst-case” effects of a multiple dry year drought. Therefore, im plementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would not result in project -level water supply and infrastructure impacts. Compared to the project, Alternative 1 would result in less development overall, and therefore a decreased amount of water usage. As such, impacts would be less.
Wastewater
Although the No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in less development than compared to the Specific Pla n, implementation of the No Project/ General Plan Alternative would increase wastewater generation within the City and subsequently the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD). The availability of adequate treatment capacity along with the continuous assessment of capacity flows would be determined on a project -by-project basis. Individual development projects, including those under the No Project/General Plan Alternative, would be required to verify that existing capacity exists to convey and treat the potential wastewater generated by the new development. Therefore, im plementation of Alternative 1 would not result in wastewater impacts. Compared to the Specific Plan, Alternative 1 would result in less development overall and a lower amount of wastewater usage.
Solid Waste
Solid waste generated in the Plan Area would be transported to Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar for disposal. Implementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would increase solid waste generation within the City. However, the No Project/ General Plan Alternative would result in less development than compared to the Specific Pla n, and therefore would produce less solid waste. Additionally, the City is required by AB 939 to divert 75 percent of solid waste from landfill. Therefore, implementation of Alternative 1 would not result in solid waste impacts. Compared to the Specific Plan, Alternative 1 would Impact Sciences 4.0-13 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
result in less development overall and produce a lower amount of solid waste , as a result, impacts would be incrementally reduced compared to the project.
Electricity
Future development resulting from the implementation of the No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in the long-term and continued use of the electricity services provided by Southern California Edison (SCE). Potential electricity impacts associated with future development would be evaluated on a project - by-project basis. The No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in less development than compared to the Specific Plan and, as a result, electricity consumption would be incrementally reduced. However, the Specific Plan includes a more energy efficient land use type (i.e., multi -family units) that could offset any potential electricity savings. As such, impacts related to electricity usage would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Natural Gas
Natural gas services are provided by SoCalGas, which is regulated by the CPUC. Potential natural gas impacts associated with future development would be evaluated on a project -by-project basis. Individual projects would be required to pay applicable fees. The No Project/General Plan Alternative would result in less development than compared to the Specific Pla n and, as a result, natural gas consumption would be incrementally red uced. However, the Specific Plan includes a more energy efficient land use type (i.e., multi-family units) that could offset any potential natural gas savings. As such, impacts related to natural gas usage would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Relationship to the Specific Plan Goals
As demonstrated in Table 4.0-1, Alternative 1 Relationship to the Specific Plan Goals , Alternative 1 would not achieve a majority of the project objectives. In addition, while a limited number of p roject objectives would be realized under Alternative 1, it would be to a lesser extent than the project as future development would coincide with the General Plan land uses and zoning.
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Table 4.0-1
Alternative 1 Relationship to the Specific Plan Goals
Project Objective Relationship to the Objective
Goal #1: An economically active and vibrant station area which attracts investment and provides quality amenities to the community.
Under Alternative 1 , new development would not center
around TOD opportunities near the Compton Metro A
Line Station. The objective would not be met.
Goal #2: A safe and well-maintained Downtown where people enjoy public space.
The Specific Plan’s district -based zoning approach would not be implemented Alternative 1 would not facilitate the revitalization of the Civic Center district, the Commercial Core, and the Historic Core. Development would be
planned according to the General Plan and would not
include the provision of open space. The objective woul d not be met.
Goal #3: A built environment and programming which reflect the history, creativity and excellence of Compton.
Under Alternative 1 , the Specific Plan ’s preservation of buildings with historical character would not be
implemented. The Compton Walk would not be
constructed, and the Compton Arts Project and other
cultural programming events would not take place. The
objective would not be met.
Goal #4: A station area which promotes public health and sustainability, and provides calm and attract ive networks for circulating without cars.
The policies included in the Specific Plan which would
encourage and permit the development of future
pedestrian linkages to and from the Compton Metro A Line Station would not be realized under Alternative 1. The area surrounding the station would be less pedestrian -friendly (compared to the project) and ultimately the area would not function as a community gateway to Downtown
Compton. Therefore, the objective would not be met under Alternative 1.
Goal #5: Adequate and affordable housing that enables the residents of Compton to remain in the community for the long-term.
The Specific Plan would facilitate the development of 441 affordable housing units. Alternative 1 would permit the development of mixed use buildings but would not ensure affordability. Therefore, the objective would be met to a lesser extent than the project.
Goal #6: Increased opportunities for Compton residents to create and grow local businesses.
Under Alternative 1, the economic development strategies included under the Specific Plan would not be
implemented. Future market -driven revitalization and
investment in the area would not occur to the same extent as under the project.
The environmental effects of the No Project/General Plan Alternative are included in Table 4.0-4, Comparison of Alternatives to the Project, below.
Alternative 2 – Reduced Residential Growth
Aesthetics
Under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative, the number of multi -family dwelling units would be reduced from 2,178 units to 978 units, when compared to the Specific Plan. As the City has not identified or designated any scenic vistas, similar to the Specific Plan , under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative no impac ts would occur related to scenic vistas. As discussed in the environmental analysis Impact Sciences 4.0-15 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
included in Section 3.1, Aesthetics, future development would not result in continuous obstructed views of the Santa Monica Mountains or Downtown Los Angeles. While the number of multi -family dwelling would be reduced by 1,200, the Specific Plan ’s development standards and goals , including in fill and compact development and the construction of a multi -modal transportation sy stem would still be applicable under Alternative 2 . Infill development would occur in designated areas and similar to the Specific Plan would not significantly change the existing visual character or quality, but rather would add to it by developing vacant parcels and implementing cohesive design guidelines. Further, potential light and glare impacts would continue to be reduced through the Specific Plan guidelines. As such, light and glare impacts would be less than significant, similar to the Specific Plan.
Air Quality
The magnitude of development under Alternative 2 would be less compared to the project by 1,200 multi- family units. Therefore, Alternative 2 would result in fewer construction emissions. Similar to the project, construction of emissions under Alternative 2 would not exceed the SCAQMD thresholds. However, it is expected that o perational emissions associated with buildout of Alternative 2 , although incrementally reduced compared to the project, would still exceed the SCAQMD thresholds for PM10 and PM2.5. Even with Mitigation Measure AQ-1, operational emissions would remain significant and unavoidable. Similar to the project, Alternative 2 would be consistent with the air quality-related regional plans and would not jeopardize attainment of state and federal ambient air quality standards. Consequently, compared to the project, impacts resulting from Alternative 2, would be incrementally reduced for con struction and operation, but would remain significant and unavoidable.
Cultural Resources including Tribal Cultural Resources
Under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative, the number of multi -family dwelling units would be reduced from 2,178 units to 978 units. No specific historical resources have been identified within the Plan area. Development, specifically grading, would have the potential unearth archaeological and/or paleontological resources. However, as the total amount of proposed development would be reduced, the number of sites developed (and associated potential for ground disturbance) , could also be reduced.
Specific projects would still be reviewed for consistency with the General Plan goals and policies, the Development Code, the Historic Preservation Ordinance, and the Compton Municipal Cod e, when applicable. The historic design guidelines included in the Specific Plan would still apply to all development under Alternative 2, as well as Mitigation Measures C UL-1 through CUL-4. As such, impacts under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would be less than significant and would be slightly re duced compared to the project.
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Energy
Implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in energy consumption (including electricity, natural gas, and petroleum -fuel), but would not result in the wasteful or inefficient use of energ y. With a reduction in the number of proposed multi-family units ( 978 under Alternative 2 compared to 2,178 under the Specific Plan ) energy consumption could be slightly reduced. Similar to the Specific Plan, land use designations under Alternative 2 would be constructed in accordance with Title 24 requirements and therefore would include energy efficiency measures. Future development would continue to be focused around transit and include energy saving measures that are part of the Specific Plan (e.g., pedestrian linkages, bicycle lanes) which would reduce vehicle traffic (quantified as vehicle miles travelled (VMT)) in and around the specific plan area. Thus, with a reduction in the number of multi-family units, energy impacts would be less than significant and slightly less when compared to the Specific Plan .
Greenhouses Gases
Implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in the construction of 1,200 fewer multi-family units when compared to the projec t. Buildout of Alternative 2 would generate fewer construction and operation GHG emissions when compared to the project, and similar to the project, would not exceed the SCAQMD significance thresholds during construction and operation. Similar to the Specific Plan, the Reduced Growth Alternative land uses would be consistent with the TOD Program and AB 32 .
However, the 1,200 units that would not be constructed near the Compton Station would still need to be constructed elsewhere in the City and/or regi on in order to achieve the State’s housing goals. If not constructed near transit, the 1,200 units could result in increased GHG emissions elsewhere as a result of increased VMT. Nonetheless, under Alternative 2 impacts related to GHG would be less than significant , however they would be greater compared to the project.
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
While the proposed 2,178 multi-family units included in the Specific Plan would be reduced to 978 multi- family units under Alternative 2, operation of multi-family units do not generally involve the routine use, transport, or disposal of significant amounts of hazardous materials, including hazardous chemical, radioactive, and biohazardous materials. Further, l and uses that use, create, or dispose of hazardou s materials are regulated and monitored by federal, state, and local regulations and policies. Specifically, future development within the specific plan area would be subject to compliance with the programs administered by the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health Hazardous Material Division (HHMD).
Thus, future development under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would be subject to the same existing federal, state, and local regulations, which would reduce potential impacts to less than significant.
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Alternative 2 includes fewer residential units the number of people that could be exposed to hazardous materials. As such, impacts would be less than significant and reduced compared to the Specific Plan.
Hydrology and Water Quality
Under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative, the proposed number of multi -family units included in the Specific Plan would be reduced. A majority of the specific plan area is developed and covered with impervious surface, thus future development would be limited to infill or redevelopment projects.
Similar to the proj ect, project s developed under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would be required to comply with existing federal, state, and local regula tions related to groundwater quality.
Sustainable design features included in the Specific Plan as a means to reduce stormwater runoff volume (e.g., permeable paving, urban bioswales, efficient water irrigation, and drought tolerant landscaping) would be i ncluded under Alternative 2. As described above, most of the specific plan area is currently developed and Alternative 2 would not substantially reduce the amount of impervious surface within the plan area compared to the project . As such, water quality impac ts would be similar to the Specific Plan , and would be less than significant.
Groundwater recharge areas would be minimally impacted by the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative as the specific plan area is developed and does not currently re present a significant source of groundwater recharge. Although Alternative 2 would result in a reduction in the number of multi -family units, implementation of this alternative could result in the same total area covered with new development as compared to the Specific Plan, with the reduction resulting in upper level multi -family units. Similar to buildout of the Specific Plan , construction activities under Alternative 2 could result in potentially significant impacts to water quality and could exceed the surrounding waterways total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Construction activities would be subject to existing regulatory requirements, including compliance with the State General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit and the provisions in the MS4 Permit addressing control of construction phase water impacts. In addition, individual development projects would be required to submit a Hydrology/Hydraulic Report, SWPPP, and SUSMP, if applicable, and provide appropriate on-site mitigation measures. As such, c onstruction-related impacts to hydrology and water quality would be similar to the Specific Plan and be less than significant.
Implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative could increase the rate and/or amount of stormwater runoff in comparison to existing conditions, which in turn could result in flooding issues on or off-site. The design guidelines included in the Specific Plan , which would help mimic natural hydrologic conditions and in turn would reduce sheet flow and the velocity of stormwater while preventing soil erosion, would be implemented under Alternative 2. As the ability of the storm drainage system to Impact Sciences 4.0-18 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
accommodate water flows is largely based on ground permeability and infrastructure capacity, the Specific Plan’s design guidelines would help to reduce any future flooding and would be applied under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative. As discussed above, the reduction in the number of multi-family units would not be expected to substantially decrease flooding potential. As a result, potential flooding impacts would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Land Use
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would reduce the allowable number of multi-family units by 1,200 dwelling units. This change in proposed land uses would not result in the potential to divide an established community as a majority of the specific plan area is currently developed. Further, Alternative 2 would continue to implement the principles of the Specific Plan that emphasize pedestrian linkages. The same design guidelines and development standards included in the Specific Plan would be included under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative, and therefore, would be consistent with SCAG’s strategies, and the General Plan’s goals and policies. As such, impacts would be less than significant a nd would be similar to the project.
Noise
Grading and construction activities associated with the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative could intermittently and temporarily generate noise levels above ambient background levels including noise levels above those permissible by the General Plan, noise ordinance and other applicable standards.
Generally, construction-related noise impacts would be short-term and localized in nature and would occur in accordance with the City’s Municipal Code Noise Ordinance and any additional applicable plans or standards. In addition, some sensitive receptors could experience noise levels that would exceed the City’s interior and exterior noise standards due to the increase in roadway noise, surrounding land uses, and temporary construction activities. Similar to the Specific Plan, development under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would be required to adhere to and implement the General Plan goals and policies, would be subject to rigorous federal and local environmental review , and would be required to abate increases in noise levels in accordance with applicable criteria. Further, individual development projects would be reviewed for project -specific impacts during any required environmental review. Mitigation Measures NOI-1 and NOI-2, would continue to apply.
Specific construction activities such as pile driving could result in potential vibration impacts. The amount of development that would occur under Alternative 2 would still be expected to generate construction noise and vibration from activities such as pile driving.
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Operational noise would also occur as a result of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative as a combination of residential, retail, office and industrial uses would be developed. Although Alternative 2 would result in a reduction in the number of multi -family units developed compared to the pr oject, the potential reduction in either construction or operational noise that would occur would be spread over the entire specific plan area and planning horizon. As the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would be required to comply with existing ordinances regarding noise and identified mitigation measures would be applied. However, while less development would occur with Alternative 2, impacts would remain significant and unavoidable.
Population, Housing and Employment
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would reduce the number of multi -family dwelling units in the specific plan a rea from 2,178 units to 978 units, resulting in a lower projected population within the specific plan area; 4,147 residents compared to 9,236 residents under the Specific Plan. Under Alternative 2, future development would not result in the displacement of large numbers of existing housing units and or people or result in substantial population growth. Thus, similar to the project , implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would not induce substantial population growth in the area, either directly or indirectly, nor would it result in the displacement of large numbers of existing housing units and or people. Impacts would be less than significant, similar to the project .
Public Services
Fire
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in additional demands on existing fire services, as individual projects are developed and associated increases in population are realized. As buildout would occur over several years, any increase in demand for fire protection services would occur gradually as additional development and associated population growth is added to the plan area. The Compton Fire Department would continue to reg ularly monitor fire department resources to ensure that adequate facilities, staffing, and equipment are available to serve existing and future development and population increases. As the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative includes a reduction in the amount of multi - family dwelling units that could be constructed, the number of services calls as well as the number of revenue generating sources would be reduced, accordingly. Thus, with continued monitoring of Compton Fire Department staffing levels by t he county, impacts to fire services would be than significant. Further, with fewer number of multi -family units proposed and thus a reduction in the projected population growth, impacts to fire services would be slightly less when compared to the project .
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Police
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would include 978 multi-family units compared to 2,178 multi-family units included in the Specific Plan . The reduction in the number of multi -family units would reduce the number of projected residents in the specific plan area by 5,089 residents. Similar to the project, as population within the specific plan area increases, additional police facilities, personnel, and equipment would be required to maintain adequate levels of poli ce protection. Although under Alternative 2 the projected population growth would be less compared to the population growth projected under the project.
Further, a s buildout of t he project would occur over several years, any increase in demand for police protection services would occur gradually as additional development and associated population growth is added to the specific plan a rea. Nonetheless, with continued monitoring of police department staffing levels by the City and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, impacts would be less than significant.
With fewer multi-family units proposed and thus a reduction in the projected population growth, impacts to police services would be slightly less when compared to the Specific Plan.
Education
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in a decrease in the number of proposed multi- family units, 978 compared to 2,178 under the Specific Plan; reducing the number of school aged children to from 915 students to approximately 411 students (including 225 elementary school students, 59 middle school students, and 127 high school student) . Similar to the project , individual development projects associated with Alternative 2 would be assessed education facilities fees based on the use and size of each project. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65995 , payment of fees to C USD is considered full mitigation for project impacts, including impacts related to the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain accept able service ratios, or other performance objectives for schools. While the total amount of education facility fees generated by development associated with Alternative 2 would be less (compared to the Specific Plan ), the revenue generated would be consist ent with the increase in the number of students. Alternative 2 would also be required to comply with all applicable General Plan policies and actions, and state and federal regulations.
Therefore, similar to the Specific Plan, impacts under Alternative 2 related to education facilities would be less than significant. With fewer multi -family units proposed and thus a reduction in the projected population growth, impacts to educational facilities would be slightly less when compared to the Specific Plan.
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Library Services
Under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative 978 multi-family dwelling units would be proposed, compared to the 2,718 multi-family units proposed under the Specific Plan . With the reduction in the number of multi-family units, the projecte d population growth would be reduced, decreasing impacts to library related services. Additionally, Alternative 2 would include the vision for a new library and community meeting space. As such, impacts to library services associated with the implementation of Alternative 2 would be less than significant, similar to the project.
Recreation
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would include 978 multi-family units compared to 2,178 multi-family units included in the Specific Plan. The reduction in the number of multi -family units would reduce the number of projected residents living in the specific plan area by 5,089 residents. Buildout of Alternative 2 would require the addition of parkland acres to address the existing parkland deficit. Similar to the Specific Plan, Alternative 2 would include design measures and policies for paseos, plazas, and public spaces to be incorporated in the specific plan area . Additionally, all new development projects are expected to meet the currently adopted requirements of the CMC through the provision of park space, on- site improvements, and/or, the payment of in-lieu fees. The City has determined these fees are adequate to offset the impact of residential units on existing parks. The fees collected would be used for acquisition, development, and improvement of public parks and recreation facilities throughout the City. Thus impacts would be similar to the project and would be less than significant. With fewer multi-family units proposed and thus a reduction in the projected population growth, impacts to recreational services would be slightly less when compared to the Specific Plan.
Traffic and Circulation
Under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative 978 multi-family units would be developed, compared to 2,178 under the project. As no changes would be made to the proposed retail, office, lodging, or service uses, the projected daily trips for all other future development would remain the same as compared to the project. The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would include 1,200 fewer units and therefore would not have the density to achieve the VMT reductions on a per capita basis as the project. Overall, without the higher levels of residential use, VMT per capita would be greater than the proposed project, and potentially significant.
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Utilities and Services
Water Supply
The Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would reduce the number of multi -family units by 1,200 units. The reduction of multi -family units would result in a decrease in water demand . The City of Compton Water Utility District (CWUD) 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) anticipates that the Department is capable of meeting the water demands o f its customers, including those in the specific plan area, in normal, single dry, and multiple dry years. Further, the water efficient design guidelines included in the Specific Plan such as, water efficient irrigation, urban bioswales, and drought tolera nt landscaping would be incorporated in Alternative 2 and would further reduce water consumption in the specific plan area. Water demand impacts under Alternative 2 would be less than significant and would be reduced compared to the project.
Wastewater
Implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would decrease the number of proposed multi-family units within the specific plan area. Individual development projects under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would generate wastewater t ypical of residential and commercial uses.
Buildout of Alternative 2 would not disrupt sewer services in the specific plan area or exceed the capability of the LACSD to meet the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (LARWQCB) discharge requirements. Construction contractors would provide portable on- site sanitation facilities for use during demolition and construction of future development projects. Implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in less than significa nt impacts, and would be reduced compared to the project.
Solid Waste
Implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would decrease the number of proposed multi-family units within the specific plan area . Construction activities associated with buildout of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would generate construction-related solid waste including wood, paper, metal, plastic, cardboard, and green wastes. Although the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in a reduction in the number of multi -family units, construction-related solid waste impacts could be similar to the Specific Plan as larger multi -family units may be constructed and/or the same number of multi-family buildings may be constructed with less dwelling units. Future projects under the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would be required to recycle/divert 75 percent of the construction waste, pursuant to the requirements of AB 939. Therefore, similar to the project , implementation of the Impact Sciences 4.0-23 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would reduce the amount of solid waste generated compared to the plan, and impacts would be less than significant.
Electricity
Future development resulting from the implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in the long- term and continued use of electricity resources. Similar to the project, potential electricity impacts associated with new developments would be evaluated on a project -by-project basis.
New development would be served by Southern California Edison (SCE) and would be required to pay applicable fees assessed by the Department necessary to provid e service to the specific project. The Department would not provide service to future projects if there were not adequate electricity supplies and infrastructure to maintain existing service levels and meet the anticipated electricity demands of the specific development requesting service. Impacts to electricity resources would be less than significant.
Further, with a reduction in the number of multi -family units, electricity use would be reduced slightly when compared to the project.
Natural Gas
Future development resulting from the implementation of the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would result in long- term and continued use of natural gas resources. Alternative 2 would include a reduction in the number of multi -family units compared to the pro ject. Similar to the project, potential natural gas impacts associated would be evaluated on a project -by-project basis and would be required to pay applicable fees assessed by SoCalGas before service is provided to a project site. SoCalGas would not provide service to new developments if there were not adequate natural gas supplies and infrastructure to maintain existing service levels and meet the anticipated demands of the project. Similar to the project, implementation of Alternative 2 would result in less than significant impacts to natural gas services; with a reduction in the number of multi -family units, when compared to the Specific Plan, natural gas impacts would be reduced slightly under this alternative.
Relationship to the Project Objectives
The project’s objectives are included in Table 4.0-2, Alternative 2 Relationship to the Project Objectives .
As shown in Table 4.0-2, Alternative 2 would achieve most of the project objectives, however a few objectives would be met to a lesser extent than the project because the proposed number of multi -family units would be less.
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Table 4.0-2
Alternative 2 Relationship to the Specific Plan Goals
Compton TOD Specific Plan Goals Relationship to Goals
Goal #1: An economically active and vibrant station area which attracts investment and provides quality amenities to the community.
Development and streetscape improvements implemented
under Alternative 2 would be centered around the
Compton Metro A Line Station. However, it would not
promote the same amount of density and investment, nor
would it revitalize the two opportunity sites – the
Renaissance and Towne Center . This objective would not be met.
Goal #2: A safe and well-maintained Downtown where people enjoy public space.
All additional non-residential growth , as well as
landscaping and transportation improvements associated
with the Specific Plan would be implemented as proposed, including open space programming. This objective would
be met under Alternative 2.
Goal #3: A built environ ment and programming which reflect the history, creativity and excellence of Compton.
Under Alternative 2, the buildings of historic character would be preserved . The Compton Walk and its
programming would be implemented, including the
Compton Arts Project . Therefore, this objective would be met under Alternative 2.
Goal #4: A station area which promotes public health and sustainability, and provides calm and attractive networks for circulating without cars.
The policies included in the Specific Plan that would
encourage and permit the development of future
pedestrian linkages to and from the Compton Metro A Line Station would be realized under Alternative 2. All
additional non-residential growth, as well as landscaping and transportation improvements asso ciated with the
Specific Plan would be implemented as proposed,
including open space programming. This objective would
be met under Alternative 2.
Goal #5: Adequate and affordable housing that enables the residents of Compton to remain in the community for the long-term.
Alternative 2 would result in the reduction of the number of multi-family units (2,178 to 978). As fewer units would be developed, affordability will likely decrease. As such, this objective would not be met.
Goal #6: Increased opportunities for Compton residents to create and grow local businesses.
The buildout of Alternative 3 would provide the same
range of supportive benefits for the local community and strategies to increase economic activity . Thus, this
objective would be met under Alternative 2.
Alternative 3 – Ideal Urban Form Alternative
Aesthetics
Under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative, the number of multi -family dwelling units would be increased from 2,178 units to 2,970 units, when compared to the Specific Plan. As the City has not identified or designated any scenic vistas, similar to the Specific Plan, under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative no impacts would occur related to scenic vistas. As discussed in the environmental analysis included in Section 3.1, Aesthetics, future development would not result in continuous obstructed views of the Santa Monica Mountains or Downtown Los Angeles. While the number of multi-family dwelling would increase by 792 units , the Specific Plan’s development standards and goals, including infill and compact Impact Sciences 4.0-25 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
development and the construction of a multi-modal transportation system would still be applicable under Alternative 3. Infill development would occur in designated areas an d similar to the Specific Plan would not significantly change the existing visual character or quality, but rather would add to it by developing vacant parcels and implementing cohesive design guidelines. This Alternative would potentially result in greater impacts related to light and glare, visual character of neighborhoods as more intense development occurs within the Downtown area . Taller buildings could overwhelm historic buildings. However, since development would occur in an existing urbanized area, impacts to visual resources would be less than significant, as with the Specific Plan. While impacts would not be significant, they would be greater when compared to the Specific Plan.
Air Quality
Development under Alternative 3 would be increased by 792 multi-family units. Therefore, Alternative 3 would result in greater construction emissions. Similar to the project, construction of emissions under Alternative 3 would not exceed the SCAQMD thresholds. However, it is expected that operational emissions associated with buildout of Alternative 3 would exceed the SCAQMD thresholds for PM10 and PM2.5. Even with Mitigation Measure AQ -1, operational emissions would remain significant and unavoidable. Similar to the project, Alternative 3 would be consistent with the air quality- related regional plans and would not jeopardize attainment of state and federal ambient air quality standards.
Consequently, compared to the project, impacts resulting from Alternative 3 , would be incrementally greater for construction and operation, and would be significant and unavoidable.
Cultural Resources including Tribal Cultural Resources
Under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative, the number of multi -family dwelling units would be increased from 2,178 units to 2,970 units. No specific historical resources have been identified within the Plan area.
Development, specifically grading, would have the potential unearth archaeological , paleontological and/or tribal cultural resources. Specific projects would still be reviewed for con sistency with the General Plan goals and policies, the Development Code, the Historic Preservation Ordinance, and the Compton Municipal Code, when applicable. The historic design guidelines included in the Specific Plan would still apply to all development under Alternative 3, as well as Mitigation Measures C UL-1 through CUL-4. As such, while impacts under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would be greater compared to the Specific Plan, the impacts would be less than significant.
Energy
Implementation of the Ideal Urban Growth Alternative would result in energy consumption (including electricity, natural gas, and petroleum -fuel), but would not result in the wasteful or inefficient use of Impact Sciences 4.0-26 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
energy. With a n increase in the number of proposed multi -family units ( 2,970 under Alternative 3 compared to 2,178 under the Specific Plan) energy consumption could be slightly increased. Similar to the Specific Plan, land use designations under Alternative 3 would be constructed in accordance with Title 24 requirements and t herefore would include energy efficiency measures. Future development would continue to be focused around transit and include energy saving measures that are part of the Specific Plan (e.g., pedestrian linkages, bicycle lanes) which would reduce vehicle tr affic (quantified as vehicle miles travelled (VMT)) in and around the specific plan area to the same extent. Thus, with even with an increase in the number of multi -family units, energy impacts would be less than significant and similar to the Specific Plan.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in the construction of 793 additional multi-family units when compared to the Specific Plan. Buildout of Alternative 3 would generate greater construction and operation GHG emissions when compared to the project, and similar to the project, would not exceed the SCAQMD significance thresholds during construction and operation. Similar to the Specific Plan, the Ideal Urban Form Alternative land uses would be consistent with the TOD Program and AB 32.
Further, Alternative 3 would add more housing near transit and could help to reduce overall VMT and associated GHG. As a result, impacts would be less than significant and less than the project.
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
While the proposed 2,178 multi-family units included in the Specific Plan would be increased to 2,970 multi-family units under Alternative 3, operation of multi-family units do not generally involve the routine use, transport, or disposal of significant amounts of hazardous materials, including hazardous chemical, radioactive, and biohazardous materials. Further, land uses that use, create, or dispose of hazardous materials are regulated and monitored by federal, state, and local regulations and policies. Specifically, future development within the specific plan area would be subject to compliance with the programs administered by the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health Hazardous Material Division (HHMD).
Thus, future development under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would be subject to the same existing federal, state, and local regulations, which would reduce potential impacts to less than significant.
Alternative 3 includes more residential units, increasing the number o f people that could be exposed to hazardous materials. As such, impacts would be slightly increased compared to the Specific Plan.
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Hydrology and Water Quality
Under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative, the proposed number of multi -family units included in th e Specific Plan would be increased. A majority of the specific plan area is developed and covered with impervious surface, thus future development would be limited to infill or redevelopment projects.
Similar to the project, projects developed under the Id eal Urban Form Alternative would be required to comply with existing federal, state, and local regulations related to groundwater quality. Sustainable design features included in the Specific Plan as a means to reduce stormwater runoff volume (e.g., permeable paving, urban bioswales, efficient water irrigation, and drought tolerant landscaping) would be included under Alternative 3 . As described above, most of the specific plan area is currently developed, thus Alternative 3 would not substantially reduce t he amount of impervious surface within the plan area compared to the project. As such, water quality impacts would be similar to the Specific Plan, and would be less than significant.
Groundwater recharge areas would be minimally impacted by the Ideal Urba n Form Alternative as the specific plan area is developed and does not currently represent a significant source of groundwater recharge. Although Alternative 3 would result in a n increase in the number of multi -family units, implementation of this alternat ive would result in the same total area covered with new development as compared to the Specific Plan, with the increase resulting in upper level multi- family units. Similar to buildout of the Specific Plan, construction activities under Alternative 3 could result in potentially significant impacts to water quality and could exceed the surrounding waterways total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Construction activities would be subject to existing regulatory requirements, including compliance with the State General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit and the provisions in the MS4 Permit addressing control of construction phase water impacts. In addition, individual development projects would be required to submit a Hydrology/Hydraulic Report, SWPPP, and SUS MP, if applicable, and provide appropriate on-site mitigation measures. As such, construction -related impacts to hydrology and water quality would be similar to the Specific Plan and be less than significant.
Implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative could increase the rate and/or amount of stormwater runoff in comparison to existing conditions, which in turn could result in flooding issues on or off-site. The design guidelines included in the Specific Plan, which would help mimic natural hydrologic conditions and in turn would reduce sheet flow and the velocity of stormwater while preventing soil erosion, would be implemented under Alternative 3 . As the ability of the storm drainage system to accommodate water flows is largely based on ground perme ability and infrastructure capacity, the Specific Plan’s design guidelines would help to reduce any future flooding and would be applied under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative. As discussed above, the increase in the number of multi -family units would not be expected Impact Sciences 4.0-28 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
to substantially increase flooding potential. As a result, potential flooding impacts would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Land Use
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would increase the allowable number of multi- family units by 792 dwelling units. This change in proposed land uses would not result in the potential to divide an established community as a majority of the specific plan area is currently developed. Further, Alternative 3 would continue to implement the principles of the Specific Plan that emphasize pedestrian linkages. The same design guidelines and development standards included in the Specific Plan would be included under the Ideal Urban Growth Alternative, and therefore, would be consistent with SCAG’s strategies, and the General Plan’s goals and policies. As such, impacts would be less than significant and would be similar to the project.
Noise
Grading and construction activities associated with the Ideal Urban Form Alternative could intermittently and temporarily generate noise levels above ambient background levels including noise levels above those permissible by the General Plan, noise ordinance and other applicable standards. Generally, construction - related noise impacts would be short-term and localized in nature and would occur in accordance with the City’s Municipal Code Noise Ordinance and any additional applicable plans or standards. In addition, some sensitive receptors could experience noise levels that woul d exceed the City’s interior and exterior noise standards due to the increase in roadway noise, surrounding land uses, and temporary construction activities. Similar to the Specific Plan, development under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would be required to adhere to and implement the General Plan goals and policies, would be subject to rigorous federal and local environmental review, and would be required to abate increases in noise levels in accordance with applicable criteria. Further, individual devel opment projects would be reviewed for project-specific impacts during any required environmental review. Mitigation Measures NOI-1 and NOI- 2, would continue to apply.
Specific construction activities such as pile driving could result in potential vibration impacts. The amount of development that would occur under Alternative 3 would be expected to generate construction noise and vibration from activities such as pile driving.
Operational noise would also occur as a result of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative as a combination of residential, retail, office and industrial uses would be developed. Alternative 3 would result in an increase in the number of multi-family units developed compared to the Specific Plan, and as a result, the potential increase in either construction or operational noise would occur. The Ideal Urban Form would be required Impact Sciences 4.0-29 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
to comply with existing ordinances regarding noise, and identified mitigation measures would be applied, however, construction and operational noise impacts would be remain significant and unavoidable and would be incrementally greater than the Specific Plan.
Population, Housing, and Employment
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would increase the number of multi-family dwelling units in the specific plan area from 2,178 units to 2,970 units, resulting in a greater projected population within the specific plan area; 12,516 residents compared to 9,236 residents under the Specific Plan . Under Alternative 3, future development would not result in the displacement of large numbers of existing housing units and or people or result in substantial population growth. Thus, similar to the project, implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would not induce substantial population growth in the area, either directly or indirectly, nor would it result in the displacement of large numbers of existing housing units and or people. This alternative would also exceed the SCAG projections for the area, but would be consistent with the State’s goals for increased housing near transit. Impacts would be less than significant, similar to the project.
Public Services
Fire
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in additional demands on existing fire services, as individual projects are developed and associated increases in population are realize d. As buildout would occur over several years, any increase in demand for fire protection serv ices would occur gradually as additional development and associated population growth is added to the plan area. The Compton Fire Department would continue to regularly monitor fire department resources to ensure that adequate facilities, staffing, and equ ipment are available to serve existing and future development and population increases. As the Ideal Urban Form Alternative includes an increase in the amount of multi-family dwelling units that could be constructed, the number of services calls as well as the number of revenue generating sources would be increased, accordingly. Thus, with continued monitoring of Compton Fire Department staffing levels by the county, impacts to fire services would be less than significant, although greater compared to the Specific Plan as a result of the increased population growth.
Police
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would include 2,970 multi-family units compared to 2,178 multi-family units included in the Specific Plan. The increase in the number of multi -family units would increase the number of projected residents in the specific plan area by 3,280 residents. Similar to the project, as population within the specific plan area increases, additional police facilities, personnel, and equipment Impact Sciences 4.0-30 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
would be required to maintain adequate levels of police protection. As buildout of the project would occur over several years, the increase in demand for police protection services would occur gradually as additional development and associated population growth is added to the specific plan area. Nonetheless, with continued monitoring of police department staffing levels by the City and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, impacts would be less than significant. With greater multi-family units proposed and thus an increase in the projected population growth, impacts to police services would be greater when compared to the Specific Plan.
Education
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in an increase in the number of proposed multi -family units, 2,970 compared to 2,178 under the Specific Plan; reducing the number of school aged children to from 915 students to approximately 1,247 students (including 683 elementary school students, 178 middle school students, and 386 high school student). Similar to the project, individual development projects associated with Alternative 3 would be assessed education facilities fees based on the use and size of each project. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65995, payment of fees to C USD is considered full mitigation for project impacts, including impacts related to the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause signif icant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, or other performance objectives for schools. While the total amount of education facility fees generated by development associated with Alternative 3 would be greater than the Specific Plan, the revenue generated would be consistent with the increase in the number of students. Alternative 3 would also be required to comply with all applicable General Plan policies and actions, and state and federal regulations. Therefore, similar to the Specific Plan, impacts under Alternative 3 related to education facilities would be less than significant. With greater multi-family units proposed and thus a n increase in the projected population growth, impacts to educational facilities would be greater when compared to the Specific Plan.
Library Services
Under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative, 2,970 multi-family dwelling units would be proposed, compared to the 2,718 multi-family units proposed under the Specific Plan. With the addition in the number of multi- family units, the projected population growth would be increased, increasing impacts to library related services. However, similar to the Specific Plan, Alternative 3 would include the vision for a new library and community meeting space. As such, impacts to library services associated with the implementation of Alternative 3 would be less than significant, similar to the project. With greater multi-family units proposed and thus a n increase in the projected population growth, impacts to librar y facilities would be greater when compared to the Specific Plan.
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Recreation
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would include 2,970 multi-family units compared to 2,178 multi-family units included in the Specific Plan. The reduction in the number of multi -family units would reduce the number of projected residents living in the specific plan area by 3,280 residents. Buildout of Alternative 3 would require the addition of parkland acres to address the existing parkland deficit. Similar to the Specific Plan, Alternative 3 would include design measures and policies for paseos, plazas, and public spaces to be incorporated in the specific plan area. Additionally, all new development projects are expected to meet the currently adopted requirements of the CMC through the provision of park space, on- site improvements, and/or, the payment of in-lieu fees. The City has determined these fees are adequate to offset the impact of residential units on existing parks. The fees collected would be used for acquisition, development, and improvement of public parks and recreation facilities throughout the City. Thus impacts would be similar to the project and would be less than significant. With greater multi-family units p roposed and thus a n increase in the projected population growth, impacts to recreational facilities would be greater when compared to the Specific Plan.
Traffic and Circulation
Under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative 2,970 multi-family units would be developed, compared to 2,178 under the project. As no changes would be made to the proposed retail, office, lodging, or service uses, the projected daily trips for all other future development would remain the same as compared to the project.
The increased density under this alternative has the potential to further reduce VMT by adding additional population to the specific plan area. As such, the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would be less than significant, and similar or slightly reduced when compared to impacts under the Specific Plan.
Utilities and Services
Water Supply
The Ideal Urban Form Alternative would increase the number of multi -family units by 792 units. The addition of multi-family units would result in an increase in water demand. The City of Compton Water Utility District (CWUD) 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) anticipates that the Department is capable of meeting the water demands of its customers, including those in the specific plan area, in normal, single dry, and multiple dry years. Furthe r, the water efficient design guidelines included in the Specific Plan such as, water efficient irrigation, urban bioswales, and drought tolerant landscaping would be incorporated in Alternative 3 and would further reduce water consumption in the S pecific Plan area. As demonstrated above, water demand i mpacts under Alternative 3 would be greater than the Specific Plan, but less than significant.
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Wastewater
Implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would increase the number of proposed multi-family units within the S pecific Plan Area. Individual development projects under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would generate wastewater typical of residential and commercial uses. Buildout of Alternative 3 would not disrupt sewer services in the specific plan area or exceed the capability of the LACSD to meet the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Con trol Board’s (LARWQCB) discharge requirements.
Construction contractors would provide portable on-site sanitation facilities for use during demolition and construction of future development projects. Implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in less than significant impacts, similar to the project. However, w ith greater multi-family units proposed and thus an increase in the projected population growth, more wastewater would be produced when compared to the Specific Plan.
Solid Waste
Implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would increase the number of proposed multi-family units within the S pecific Plan Area. Construction activities associated with buildout of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would generate construction -related solid waste including wood, paper, metal, plastic, cardboard, and green wastes. Although the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in a greater number of multi-family units, construction-related solid waste impacts could be similar to the Specific Plan as larger multi-family units may be constructed and/or the same number of multi -family buildings may be constructed with more dwelling units. Future projects under the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would be required to recycle/divert 75 percent of the c onstruction waste, pursuant to the requirements of AB 939.
Therefore, similar to the project, implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would not result in significant construction-related solid waste impacts. However, with greater multi-family units proposed and thus a n increase in the projected population growth, more solid waste would be produced when compared to the Specific Plan.
Electricity
Future development resulting from the implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in the long -term and continued use of electricity resources. Similar to the project, potential electricity impacts associated with new developments would be evaluated on a project -by-project basis. New development would be served by Southern California Edis on (SCE) and would be required to pay applicable fees assessed by the Department necessary to provide service to the specific project. The Department would not provide service to future projects if there were not adequate electricity supplies and infrastructure to maintain existing service levels and meet the anticipated electricity demands of the Impact Sciences 4.0-33 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
specific development requesting service. Although compared to the Specific Plan, electricity use would be greater as a result of a greater number of multi -family units, impacts to electricity resources would be less than significant.
Natural Gas
Future development resulting from the implementation of the Ideal Urban Form Alternative would result in long-term and continued use of natural gas resources. Alternative 3 would include a n increase in the number of multi-family units compared to the project. Similar to the project, potential natural gas impacts associated would be evaluated on a project -by-project basis and would be required to pay applicable fees assessed by SoCalGas before service is provided to a project site. SoCalGas would not provide service to new developments if there were not adequate natural gas supplies and infrastructure to maintain existing service levels and meet the anticipated demands of the project. Although compared to the Specific Plan, natural gas use would be greater as a result of a greater number of multi -family units, impacts to natural gas resources would be less than significant.
Relationship to the Project Objectives
The project’s objectives are included in Table 4.0-3, Alternative 3 Relationship to the Specific Plan Goals.
No changes would be made to the Specific Plan’s development standards, guidelines, and policies. As shown in Table 4.0-3, Alternative 3 would achieve all of the project objectives to the same extent as the Specific Plan.
Impact Sciences 4.0-34 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
Table 4.0-3
Alternative 3: Relationship to the Specific Plan Goals
Compton TOD Specific Plan Guiding Principles Relationship to Objective Goal #1: An economically active and vibrant station area which attracts investment and provides quality amenities to the community.
Development and streetscape improvements implemented
under Alternative 3 would be centered around the
Compton Metro A Line Station. The increased density
would attract additional investment and would add to an economically and vibrate area This objective would be met under Alternative 3.
Goal #2: A safe and well-maintained Downtown where people enjoy public space.
All a dditional non -residential growth , as well as
landscaping and transportation improvements associated
with the Specific Plan would be implemented as proposed, including open space programming. This objective would
be met under Alternative 3.
Goal #3: A built environment and programming wh ich reflect the history, creativity and excellence of Compton.
Under Alternative 3 , the buildings of historic character would be preserved . The Compton Walk and its
programming would be implemented, including the
Compton Arts Project. Therefore, this objec tive would be met under Alternative 3.
Goal #4: A station area which promotes public health and sustainability, and provides calm and attractive networks for circulating without cars.
The policies included in the Specific Plan which would
encourage and permit the development of future
pedestrian linkages to and from the Compton Metro A Line Station would be realized under Alternative 3.
Development standards and design guidelines that
support and encourage transit -oriented development and ultimately increase safe, direct, and convenient pedestrian access to transit facilities would be implemented. This objective would be met under Alternative 3.
Goal #5: Adequate and affordable housing that enables the residents of Compton to remain in the community for the long-term.
Alternative 2 would result in an increase of the number of multi-family units ( 2,178 to 2,970). The amount of
affordable units would increase from 441 units to 463 units.
As such, this objective would be met under Alternative 3.
Goal #6: Increased opportunities for Compton residents to create and grow local businesses.
The buildout of Alternative 3 would provide the same
range of supportive benefits for the local community and strategies to increase economic activity. Thus, this objective would be met under Alternative 3.
The environmental effects of Alternative 3 are included in Table 4.0-11, Comparison of Alternatives to the Project, below.
4.6 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE
Section 15126.6 of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an “environmentally superior” alternative be selected among the alternatives that are evaluated in an EIR. In general, the environmentally superior alternative is the alternative that would be expected to generate the fewest adverse impacts. If the No Project Alternative is identified as environmentally superior, then another environmentally superior alternative shall be identified among the other alternatives.
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Table 4.0-11, Comparison of Alternatives to the Project, summarizes the impact of each alternative and whether impacts would be similar, less, or greater when compared to the project .
As shown in Table 4.0-4, none of the alternatives would eliminate the significant impact associated with the project (operational air quality). However, the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative (Alternative 2) would incrementally reduce the significant impact due t o a reduction in the overall population and by invoking the Specific Plan’s goals and principles, such as emphasizing mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented development in and around the Metro A Line Compton Station and Downtown Compton . Additionally, impact areas determined to be less than significant that are driven by population, including energy, public services and utilities, including fire, po lice, and library services, electricity and natural gas consumption, as well as solid waste and wastewater generation, and water consumption would be reduced. This would occur by reducing the number of multi -family units (from 2,178 units to 978 units), which would reduce the projected population growth (from 9,236 residents to 1,944 residents) associated with buildout of Alternative 2. Although the Reduced Residential Growth Alternative would not eliminate the significan t impact associated with buildout of the project (e.g., operational air quality) and would potentially result in an additional traffic (VMT) impact and incrementally increase GHG impacts, Alternative 2 is identified as the environmentally superior alternat ive because it would incrementally reduce the project related significant impact and result in the least impacts to public services and finite resources of the alternatives analyzed.
In addition, Alternative 2 would fulfill most of the Specific Plan ’s objectives, although in some cases to a lesser extent than compared to the project. Market forces will ultimately dictate the number of multi-family units, however, the assumptions used to analyze the Specific Plan reflect the analysis included in the Market Study completed for the project. Should the market dictate the need for fewer multi -family units, the flexibility in the Specific Plan would accommodate these changes.
Impact Sciences 4.0-36 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
4.7 COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES
Table 4.0-4 summarizes the effects of the alternatives.
Table 4.0-4
Comparison of Alternatives to the Project
Environmental Issue Area Project No Project Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Aesthetics Less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Similar, less than significant Greater, less than significant Air Quality Significant and
unavoidable,
operation level, even
with Mitigation
Measure AQ-1
Incrementally less,
operation level
significant and
unavoidable
Incrementally less, operation
level significant and
unavoidable
Similar, operation level
significant and unavoidable
Cultural Resources including
Tribal Cultural Resources
Less than significant
with Mitigation
Measures CUL-1
through CUL-4
Similar, less than
significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Energy Less than significant Greater, less than
significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Similar, less than significant
Greenhouse Gases Less than significant Similar, less than significant
Greater, less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Hazards and Hazardous Materials Less than significant Similar, less than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Hydrology and Water Quality Less than significant Similar, less than significant
Similar, less than significant Similar, less than significant Land Use Less than significant Similar, less than
significant
Similar, less than significant Similar, less than significant Noise Significant and
unavoidable, even
with Mitigation
Measure NOI-1 and
NOI-2.
Incrementally less,
significant and
unavoidable
Incrementally less,
significant and unavoidable
Greater, Significant and
unavoidable
Population, Housing, and
Employment
Less than significant Similar, less than
significant
Similar, less than significant Similar, less than significant Impact Sciences 4.0-37 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
Environmental Issue Area Project No Project Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Fire Protection Less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Police Protection Less than significant
with
Incrementally less, less
than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Education Less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Library Services Less than significant Greater, less than significant
Similar, less than significant Greater, less than significant Recreation Less than significant Greater, less than
significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Transportation Less than significant Greater, potentially significant
Greater, potentially
significant
Similar, less than significant
Water Supply Less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant.
Greater, less than significant
Wastewater Less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Solid Waste Less than significant Incrementally less, less than significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Electricity Less than significant Similar, less than
significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Natural Gas Less than significant Similar, less than
significant
Incrementally less, less than
significant
Greater, less than significant
Source: Impact Sciences, 2022
Impact Sciences, Inc. 5.0-1 Compton TOD Specific Plan PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
5.0 EFFECTS FOUND NOT TO BE SIGNIFICANT
As required by Section 15128 of the CEQA Guidelines , an EIR shall contain a brief discussion stating the reasons why various possible significant effects of a project were determined not significant and are, therefore, not discussed in detail in the EIR. In accordance with the CEQA Guidelines, this section discusses the environmental issue areas where impacts were found not to be significant. These discussions address the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G questions for each of the environmental topic areas where the proposed Compton TOD Specific Plan would result in either a less than significant impact or no impact.
5.1 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
The Specific Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulation, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
No impact . The City of Compton generally consists of predominantly urban land with previously disturbed soils, which has led to highly fragmented habitats. Several scattered urban parks and golf courses with landscaped vegetation exist within a five-mile radius of the Plan area. Both Chino Hills State Park (to the east) and the Santa Monica Mountains (to the north) are regional open space areas located approximately 20 miles from the Plan area. The Palos Verdes Peninsula, which contains a network of habitat reserves, is located more than nine miles from the Plan area . Compton Creek, approximately 500 feet west of the southwestern most part of the Plan area , flows through the City and into the Los Angeles River to the south, connecting eventually to the San Pedro Bay in the Pacific Ocean approximately eight miles south.
A literature review and records search were conducted to determine the potential occurrence of special status plant and wildlife species in or in the immediate vicinity of Plan area . The Plan a rea is located in Township 3 South, Range 13 West on the USGS South Gate, California 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle.
Per the Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) Database, there is one listed species by the U .S.
Fish and Wildlife Service that has the potential to be affected by activities in this location: Coastal California Gnatcatcher ( Polioptila californica californica ).
1 The nearest sensitive species to the Plan area are located within the Compton Creek. The Draft 2030 General Plan identifies the wetland habitat in the soft-bottomed portion of Compton Creek to include cattails, aquatic grasses, killdeer, red- winged blackbirds and great
1 United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Information for Planning and Consultation Database. Available online at:
https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/location/KMOOIPTK4FHVRMUMT25EAMZ5PQ/resources, accessed March 3, 2022
5.0 Effects Found Not to be Significant
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blue heron; however, that portion of the Creek lies adjacent to the 91 freeway and the new Gateway Towne Center development on Alameda Street approximately more than a mile and half southeast from Compton Station.2 Therefore, there are no critical habitats, national wildlife refuge lands, or wetlands identified at this location. The Plan area is considered to have a low habitat and species diversity value, due to the heavily disturbed and developed nature of the site, isolation from native habitats, and high human activity levels surrounding the area. Consequently, no suitable habitat for special status species, including the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), is present on the project site. The project site is not located within or near any County of Los Angeles Significant Ecological Areas (SEAs). 3 Given that the potential for any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species to occur is low at the project site, the proposed project would not have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For these reasons, the Specific Plan would have a no impact with regard to biological resources.
The Specific Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, and regulations or by the Calif ornia Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .
No impact. As stated above, the Plan area is made up of urban development and is highly disturbed under existing conditions, with little potential for any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community to flourish. Before settlement, Compton Creek was a riparian habitat, home to a diversity of plant life, birds, insects, and fish. Although Compton Creek lies 200 feet southwest of the Plan Area, the 2030 General Plan identifies Compton Creek as mostly lined with concrete. The only section of the Creek that retains some of its original character with its earthen- bottom is located a djacent to the 91 freeway and the new Gateway Towne Center development on Alameda Street . This small portion of the southern section of the creek contains a wetland/riparian habitat maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works ; however, it lies more than a mile and half southeast from the Compton Station. Therefore, n o riparian habitat nor other sensitive natural community exists within the project site or in the surrounding area.
Implementation of the proposed Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat
2 This small portion of the southern section of the creek contains a wetland/riparian habitat is maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. City of Compton 2030 General Plan. 3 County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning. Significant Ecological Areas and Coastal Resource Areas Policy Map. February 2015. Available online at:
https://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl/project/gp_2035_2014-FIG_9-3_significant_ecological_areas.pdf
5.0 Effects Found Not to be Significant
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or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or US Fish and Wildlife Service. No impact would occur.
The Specific Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means.
No impact. the Plan Area is highly disturbed under existing conditions, with no state or federally protected wetlands on site or in the general vicinity of the project. Compton Creek runs 500 feet southwest of the Plan Area; however, most of it is filled with concrete and the Creek has not been identified as containing a significant ecological area.
4 The Plan area principally consists of urban development, with no wetlands nor bodies of water within the Plan area or in the surrounding area.5 Buildout of the proposed Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Therefore, no impact occur.
The Specific Plan would not interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites.
Less than significant. Compton Creek lies 5 00 feet from the Project Area; however, as that portion of the Creek is filled with concrete, there is no evidence of wildlife corridors or native wildlife nursery sites in which fish are present are located on the pr oject site , and the 2030 General Plan does not identify this portion of Compton Creek as containing wetland/riparian habitat . Additionally, several mature trees are present within the Plan area that may provide suitable habitat for nesting birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and California Fish and Game Code §§ 3500 5500. Birds may also nest on or within the vacant buildings within the Plan a rea. The MBTA of 1918 impleme nts the United States’ commitment to four treaties with Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Russia for the protection of shared migratory bird resources. The MBTA governs the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of migratory birds, their egg s, parts, and nests. Compliance with the MBTA is required of all development and would ensure impacts to nesting birds would not occur.
4 Ibid.
5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Wetlands Inventory. 2020. Accessed October 2020 online at: https://www .fws.gov/wetlands/data/mapper.html.
5.0 Effects Found Not to be Significant
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The Plan area is located in a dense urban area consisting predominantly of manufacturing and commercial land uses immediately adjacent to the Metro Station, with low, medium and high-density residential land uses outside of the commercial and manufacturing zones. The Metro A line and Alameda Corridor both bisect the Plan area north -south, limiting the ability of any wildlife movement. As such, t he Plan area has a limited ability to support both native resident and migratory species. These disturbances decrease the Plan area’s value as suitable breeding and foraging habitat, and also as a migration corridor or overland dispersal habitat because the property is movement -constrained. The more factors that constrain species habitats and dispersal / movement corridors, the less likely individuals are to occur, or continue to occur within a specific locale. There are no large bloc ks of natural open space within the Plan area that are considered essential for long- term plant and wildlife viability in Los Angeles County. For these reasons, the Specific Plan would have a less than significant impact.
The Specific Plan would not conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance.
Less Than Significant. As noted above, the Plan a rea is predominantly characterized by manufacturi ng and commercial land uses immediately adjacent to the Metro A Line, with low, medium and high-density residential land uses outside of the commercial and manufacturing zones. The City of Compton Municipal Code (§ 20-4 Street Trees) requires City approval to “cut, remove, or damage any tree, shrub, plant, wood, turf, rock, sand, gravel or earth, or pick any flowers” within the public right -of-way. Removal or planting of any tree in the public right -of-way requires approval by the City of Compton prior to t he issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. As no specific projects are currently proposed under this Proposed Plan, implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not conflict with the provisions of the City of Compton Municipal Code. For these reasons, there would be a less than significant impact.
The Specific Plan would not conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan.
No Impact. The Plan area is not subject to an adopted habitat conservation plan, natural community conservation plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan and, therefore, would have no impact with respect to these plans.
5.2 WILDFIRE
The Specific Plan would not s ubstantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan.
5.0 Effects Found Not to be Significant
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Less than Significant Impact. The Plan area is surrounded on all sides by existing infrastructure including roadways a bike path, and a transit line. A major freeway, Interstate 710, is located about two miles east from the Compton Metro Station, and the 105 is located northeast of the Plan area, providing ready access to residents and employees. Construction pursuant to the proposed Specific Plan would occur over a period of 20 years on discreet sites in various locations within the Plan area. Although temporary lane and sidewalk closures immediately adjacent to site -specific development projects may be necessary for short durations, adequate emergency vehicle access throughout the Plan area would be maintained at all times as required. As part of the review and approval of site-specific development projects within the Plan area, development plans will be reviewed by the City’s police and fire agencies prior to construction to ensure that alternative route planning to facilitate the passage of people and vehicles through/around any temporary required road closures occurs and is implemented, if needed.
The Specific Plan would aim to improve the vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle access and connectivity from the Compton Station throughout the Plan Area. The Specific Plan does not include the development of structures that could potentially impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan, such as the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
6 Accordingly, the Plan would not impair any adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan and impacts would therefore be less than significant.
The Specific Plan would not exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to, pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors.
No Impact. Wildfires have the potential to occur not only in fire -prone undeveloped areas, but also in developed areas where existing transmission lines, lightning strikes, lawn equipment operated over dry grass, fireworks, and even arson may ignite a wildfire. Wildfires pose a significant public health risk due to their air quality impacts, particularly with regard to smoke and particulate matter exposure. This risk persists even after a wildfire is extinguished because particulate matter from fire ash can be picked up by winds.
The Plan area is not located within a Very High Fire Hazard Zone, nor does the Plan area contain vegetation that could contribute to the uncontrolled spread of wildfire. 7 The nearest VHFHZ is located more than ten
6 City of Compton. 2011. General Plan 2030 – Public Safety Element. Available at:
http://www.comptoncity.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24243 7 The Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (or “Zone”) was first established in the City of Los Angeles in 1999 and replaced the older “Mountain Fire District” and “Buffer Zone.” The “Zone” was carefully determined according to California State Law. Los Angeles Fire Department, Fire-Zone, https://www.lafd.org/fire-zone.
5.0 Effects Found Not to be Significant
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miles to the southwest at Rolling Hills near Rancho Palos Verdes.8 The Specific Plan will result in additional housing and commercial/hotel uses within the Plan area and would not contain any uses that could add or contribute to wildfire risk. Therefore, given the components of the Plan and the urbanized location of the Plan area, the Project does not include any features that would exacerbate wildfire risk. This would result in no impact.
The Specific Plan would not require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment.
No Impact. The Plan area is urbanized and does not include wildlands or high fire terrain. The Plan area is surrounded by existing infrastructure including roadways, the Metro Line, and the Alameda Corridor and would not require the installation or maintenance of roads, fuel brea ks, emergency water or other sources that could exacerbate fire risk. During construction of individual projects, temporary power would likely be required from existing power lines. However, maintenance of these temporary power sources would be in accordance with LAFD requirements. As such, in the unlikely event of a fire in the Plan area during construction, accepted protocols would be followed to minimize risk to surrounding areas. Due to the urbanized nature of the area, it is unlikely any fire would spread. Therefore, there would be no impacts.
The Specific Plan would not expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes.
No Impact. In Southern California, intense rainfall may occur during the winter months, creating natural flooding events when the ground in saturated and water levels are high. This has the potential for flooding issues, and fire hazards may exacerbate such flooding and debris flows along waterways. Since debris flows may occur quickly and without warning, such flows can damage structures, block drainage or even sweep away vegetation resulting in tenuous post -fire slope stability. Fast moving debris flows can b e one of the most dangerous post -fire hazards. The Plan area is generally flat and urbanized and is not in an area of wildfire risk, therefore would not be subject to any post fire slope instability or landslides. Therefore, there would be no impact.
8 CalFire, FHSZ Viewer. Available online at: https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/, accessed on February 4, 2022.
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6.0 OTHER CEQA CONSIDERATIONS
6.1 GROWTH INDUCEMENT
CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(d) requires that an environmental impact report (EIR) evaluate the growth-inducing impacts of a proposed action. A growth -inducing impact is defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2 (d) as follows:
the ways in which a proposed project co uld foster economic or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment.
Included in this are projects which would remove obstacles to population growth…Increases in the population may tax existing community service facilities, requiring construction of new facilities that could cause significant environmental effects. Also…the characteristic of some projects which may encourage and facilitate other activities that could significantly affect the environment, either individually or cumulatively.
There are two types of growth -inducing impacts a project may have: direct and indirect. To assess the potential for growth-inducing impacts, the project features that may encourage and facilitate activities that individually or cumulatively may affect the environment must be evaluated.
Direct growth -inducing impacts occur when the development of a project imposes new burdens on a community that directly induces population growth or the construction of additional developments in the same area of the proposed project, thereby triggering related growth associated impacts. Included in this analysis are projects that would remove physical obstacles to population growth (such as a new road into an undeveloped area or a wastewater treatment plant that could allow more construction in the service area). Construction of these types of infrastructure projects cannot be considered isolated from the development they trigger. In contrast, projects that physically remove obstacles to growth, projects that indirectly induce growth, are those that may provide a catalyst for future unrelated development in an area (such as a new residential community that requires additional commercial uses to support residents).
A project can have a direct and/or indirect growth inducement potential. Direct growth inducement would result if a project, for instance, involved the construction of new housing. A project would have indirect growth inducement potential if it established substantial new permanent employment opportunities (e.g., commercial, industrial, or governmental enterprises) or if it would involve a construction effort with substantial short-term employment opportunities that would indirectly stimulate the need for additional housing and services to support the new employment demand. Similarly, a project would indirectly induce growth if it would remove an obstacle to additional growth and development, such as removing a constraint on a required public service. For example, a project providing an increased water supply in an area where water service historically limited growth could be considered growth inducing.
6.0 Other CEQA Considerations
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The CEQA Guidelines explain that the environmental effects of induced growth are considered indirect impacts of the proposed action. These indirect impacts or secondary effects of growth may result in significant, adverse environmental impacts. Potential secondary effects of growth include increased demand on other community impacts such as degradation of ai r and water quality, degradation or loss of plant and animal habitat, and conversion of agricultural and open space land to developed uses.
Typically, the growth-inducing potential would be considered significant if it stimulates human population growth or a population concentration above what is assumed in local and regional land use plans, or in projections made by regional planning authorities. Significant growth potential could also occur if the project provides infrastructure or service capacity to ac commodate growth levels beyond those permitted by local or regional plans and policies.
As discussed below, this analysis evaluates whether the proposed project would directly or indirectly induce economic, population, or housing growth in the surrounding environment.
6.1.1 Direct and Indirect Growth-Inducing Impacts
New housing development implemented under the proposed Compton Station TOD Specific Plan would involve up to a net total increase of 2,178 residential units, as well as approximately 148,000 square feet of non-residential employment generating uses. This new development would re sult in population growth as it provides new homes and businesses in the Specific Plan area.
Using the Plan area's average household size of 4.39 (see Table 3.10-2) for incremental 2040 growth within the Plan area, and the City’s occupancy rate, the addit ion of 2,178 residential units into the Specific Plan would generate a population of approximately 9,236 persons . The incremental population growth projection for the Plan area is the addition of 305 persons. The project’s incremental population growth represents an approximately 2,900 percent increase (9,236 persons / 305 persons) or 8,931 persons over the population growth projection for the Specific Plan area. In comparison to the SCAG RTP/SCS population growth projections for City of Compton as a whole, the proposed Specific Plan’s incremental population growth is approximately 355 percent (9,236 persons / 2,032 persons) of the City’s incremental population growth.
As described in Chapter 3.10, Population and Housing, the Specific Plan area currently has 2,808 units and approximately 12,323 residents. The proposed Specific Plan 20 40 incremental increase of 2,178 residential units would represent an approximately 77.5 percent increase in residential units over existing residential units in 2021 for a total of 4,986 residential units. The project’s incremental residential growth represents an approximately 1 ,777 percent increase ( 2,178 units / 116 units) over the Plan area’s residential growth projection.
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Although the project would provide greater residential growth, the project is consistent with the Cit y’s General Plan and Housing Element, as well as statewide goals for increase housing and density around transit stations. The project is specifically accommodated for by the Housing Element Goal 4: The City of Compton will encourage development of a viable urban community consistent with orderly growth and environmental conservation to provide suitable living environments, with access to employment, community facilities, and services. The Specific Plan is also consistent with the General Plan’s Land Use Element. Specifically, the Plan would facilitate Land Use Policy 1.2: Adopt redevelopment plans for the City’s commercial and industrial areas; and Land use Policy 1.8: Use specific plans and similar planning approaches to focus revitalization efforts on target neighborhoods.
The Specific Plan will also accommodate the 2021-2029 RHNA allocation for the City. As discussed above, the proposed project would exceed the City’s population and housing projection for the Specific Plan area by 8,931 persons and 2,062 residential units. This exceedance of population and housing projection over 20 years within the region is considered nominal because the growth within the Specific Plan would represent
0.09 percent of the County’s incremental population growth and 0. 06 percent of the County’s incremental residential growth (Table 3.10 -5) and the region is experiencing a well -documented housing crisis .
Therefore, the proposed Specific Plan would not induce additional population and housing growth that would result in significant impacts to the environment.
In addition, the proposed project would involve a net total of approximately 148,000 square feet of non- residential employment generating uses, which will result in a net increase of approximately 172 jobs, and therefore, by 20 40 there would be a total of 4,125 jobs within the Specific Plan area. This increase in job growth is approximately 65 percent more jobs than projected for the Specific Plan area. The jobs are anticipated to be filled by people within the County d ue to the transit-oriented development nature of the proposed Specific Plan, its accessibility to the Compton Station and multiple freeways, and the larger available labor force within the County. In addition, the increase in jobs within the Specific Plan represents 16 percent of the projected jobs within the C ity for 20 40 and is within the job growth projected for the County. Therefore, although the proposed project would exceed residential and job growth in the Specific Plan area compared to the County Ge neral Plan projects, the increased job growth would accommodate the unemployed labor pool within the County. In addition, due to the site’s accessibility, no substantial additional growth in the Specific Plan area or immediately adjacent to the Specific Plan area would occur.
Therefore, the proposed Specific Plan would not result in a significant inducement of indirect growth from operation of the proposed uses.
Construction of projects that would occur within the Specific Plan area would include a need for construction labor during short time periods. Due to the employment patterns of construction workers in southern California, and the market for construction labor, construction workers are not likely, to any
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significant degree, to relocate their households as a consequence of the job opportunities presented by the project. The construction industry differs from most other industry sectors in several important ways that are relevant to potential impacts on housing:
• There is no regular place of work. Construction workers commute to job sites that change many times in the course of a year. These often lengthy daily commutes are made possible by the off-peak starting and ending times of the typical construction work day.
• Many construction workers are highly specialized (e.g., crane operators, steel workers, and masons), and move from job site to job site as dictated by the demand for their skills. • The work requirements of most construction projects are also highly specialized and workers are employed on a job site only as long as their skills are needed to complete a particular phase of the construction process.
Therefore, the construction activities associated with the implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not result in a significant inducement of indirect growth.
6.2 SIGNIFICANT AND IRREVERSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
Section 21100(b)(2)(B) of CEQA Guidelines and Section 15126.2(c) of the CEQA Guidelines require that an EIR include a detailed statement setting forth “[a]ny significant effect on the environment that would be irreversible if the project is implemented” (Public Resources Code § 21100(b(2)(B). “Significant irreversible environmental changes” include the use of nonrenewable natural resources during the initial and continued phases of the project, should this use result in the unavailability of these resources in the future.
Primary impacts and, particularly, secondary impacts generally commit future generations to similar uses.
Also, irreversible damage can resu lt from environmental accidents associated with projects. Irretrievable commitments of these resources are required to be evaluated in an EIR to ensure that such consumption is justified (CEQA Guidelines §15126.2(c)).
Approval of the proposed project woul d cause irreversible environmental changes consisting of the following:
Project construction and operation would result in an irretrievable loss of, and irreversible commitment of, natural resources. The Specific Plan area is located in an existing urbanized area but would require the commitment of resources such as lumber and steel to construct the infill development. Development projects that would be implemented in accordance with the Specific Plan would involve construction and operation that would use fossil fuels and other natural materials, such as wood and metals. Construction
6.0 Other CEQA Considerations
Impact Sciences, Inc. 6.0-5 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
and operation of infill developments would also emit pollution into the air, from construction machines and vehicles, and from vehicles traveling to and from each infill development project during operation.
These developments would also consume fossil fuels (petroleum and natural gas), and electricity generated by fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources during operation. As described throughout this EIR, the Specific Plan would implement a TOD in such a manner that would reduce vehicle trips, encourage pedestrian and bicycle circulation, and promote public transit use. In addition, development projects that would be implemented by the Specific Plan would be required to c omply with federal, state, and local requirements (described within each environmental resource section), such as Title 24 requirements and low impact development requirements that would reduce the irretrievable loss of, and irreversible commitment of, natural resources.
Impact Sciences, Inc. 7.0-1 Compton TOD Specific Plan PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
7.0 LIST OF EIR PREPARERS
LIST OF PREPARERS
Impact Sciences, Inc. , has prepared this environmental document for the City of Compton. Persons directly involved in the review and preparation of this report include:
City of Compton
Robert Delgadillo, Interim Planning Director
Specific Plan – The Arroyo Group
Phil Burns, AICP, Principal
Traffic Analysis – Iteris, Inc.
Deepak Kaushik, Associate Vice President
Sean Daly, Senior Planner
EIR Preparation – Impact Sciences, Inc.
Jessica Kirchner Flores, AICP, Managing Principal
Margaret Lin, Senior Project Manager
Brett Pomeroy, Associate Principal
Kara Yates Hines, Director of Operations &Publications Manager Raul Castillo, Planner
Yasmeen Hussain, Planner
Kay Real, AICP, Planner
Annalie Sarrieddine, Associate Planner
Impact Sciences, Inc. 8.0-1 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
8.0 GLOSSARY
(P)EIR (Program) Environmental Impact Report
µg/m3 Micrograms per Cubic Meter
2020 RTP/SCS 2020 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy AB Assembly Bill
Ac Acre
ACE Affordable Clean Energy
AFV Alternative Fuel Vehicles
AFY Acre-feet per year
APS Alternative Planning Strategy
AQMP Air Quality Management Plan
BACT Best Available Control Technologies
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BMPs Best Management Practices
BSER Best System of Emission Reduction
Btu British thermal units
CAA Clean Air Act
CAAQS California Ambient Air Quality Standards
CAFÉ Corporate Average Fuel Economy
CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Cal/EPA California Environmental Protection Agency
CalEEMod California Emissions Estimator Model
CALGreen Code California Green Building Standards Code
Caltrans California Department of Transportation
CAPCOA California Air Pollution Control Officers Association CARB California Air Resources Board
CASQA California Stormwater Quality Association
CBC California Building Code
CCAA California Clean Air Act
CCAR California Climate Action Registry
CCR California Code of Regulations
CCR California Fire Code
CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CDWR California Department of Water Resources
CEC California Energy Commission
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CESA California Endangered Species Act
CFD Compton Fire Department
CFGC California Fish and Game Code
CH4 Methane
City City of Compton
CMC Compton Municipal Code
CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database
CNEL Community Noise Equivalent Level
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CNPS California Native Plan Society
CO Carbon Monoxide
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
Connect SoCal SCAG’s 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission
CRHR California Register of Historic Resources
CUSD Compton Unified School District
CWA Clean Water Act
CWUD City of Compton Water Utility District
dB Decibel
dB(A) A-Weighted Decibel
DMA Disaster Mitigation Act
DOF California Department of Finance
DOGGR California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources
DOT Department of Transportation
DPM Diesel Particulate Matter
DTSC Department of Toxic Substances Control
Du Dwelling Units
EGUs Electric Generating Units
EIA United States Energy Information Administration
EIA Effective Impervious Area
EOP Compton Emergency Operations Plan
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FAST Act Fixing America’s Surface
FAST Act Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FESA Federal Endangered Species Act
FHSZ Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map
FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act
FMZ Fuel Modification Zone
FPPA Farmland Protection Policy Act
Freeway 47 State Route 47
Freeway 91 State Route 91
FRPP Federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program
FTA Federal Transit Administration
GGRF Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
GHG Greenhouse gas
Gpcd gallons per capita per day
GWh Gigawatt-hours
GWP Global Warming Potential
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HAPs Hazardous Air Pollutants
HCD California Department of Housing and Community Development HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
HNL Hourly Noise Level
HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Hz Hertz
I-110 Interstate 110
I-710 Interstate 710
ICU Intersection Capacity Utilization
IPaC Information for Planning and Consultation Database IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IRP Integrated Resources Plan
ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers
JWPCP Joint Water Pollution Control Plant
LA County Library Los Angeles County Public Library System LACSD Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
LACSD Los Angeles County Sanitation District
LADPW Los Angeles Department of Public Works
LARWQCB Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board LARWQCB Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board Ldn Day-night average sound level
Leq Equivalent Noise Level
LID Low Impact Development
LOS Level of Service
MACT Maximum Achievable Control Technology
MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Metro A Line Metro A (Blue) Line
MLD Most Likely Descendant
MM Mitigation Measure
MMTCO2e Million Metric Tons of CO2e
MMThm Millions of Therms
MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization
MTCO2e Metric Ton of CO2e
N2O Nitrous Oxide
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NAHC Native American Heritage Commission
NCCP Natural Community Conservation Plan
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NHPA National Historic Preservation Act
NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide
Impact Sciences, Inc. 8.0-4 Compton TOD Specific Plan Draft PEIR 1335.001 May 2022
NOx Nitrogen Oxide
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPPA California Native Plant Protection Act
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRF National Response Framework
NRHP National Register of Historic Places
O3 Ozone
OEHHA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
OES Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
OPR Office of Planning and Research
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Pb Lead
PFCs Perfluorocarbons
Plan Area Specific Plan area
PM Particulate Matter
PM10 Particulate Matter 10 Microns or Less in Diameter
PM2.5 Particulate Matter 2.5 Microns or Less in Diameter PPD-8 Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness Ppm Parts per Million
PPV Peak Particle Velocity
PRC Public Resource Code
PUC Public Utilities Commission
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Allocation
RMS Root Mean Squared
ROC Reactive Organic Compounds
RPS California's Renewables Portfolio Standard
RTAC Regional Targets Advisory Committee
RWQCB California Regional Water Quality Control Board
SB Senate Bill
SCAB South Coast Air Basin
SCAG Southern California Association of Governments
SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District
SCE Southern California Edison
SCGC Southern California Gas Company
SCS Sustainable Communities Strategy
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
SHPO State Historical Preservation Office
SIPs State Implementation Plans
SLCP Short-lived climate pollutants
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide
SRA State Responsibility Area
SUSMP Standard Urban Stormwater Mitigation Plan
SWMP Stormwater Management Plan
SWPPP Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
TACs Toxic Air Contaminants
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TCR Tribal Cultural Resource
TCR Transportation Concept Report
TDM Transportation Demand Management
TOD Compton Station Transit Oriented Development
TSM Transportation Systems Management
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USACOE United States Army Corps of Engineers
USC United States Code
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
V/C Volume-to-capacity
VCFD Ventura County Fire Department
VCWWD Ventura County Waterworks District
VdB Vibration decibels
VHFHSZ Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
VMT Vehicle Miles Traveled
WOTUS Waters of the United States
WSRA Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
APPENDIX 3.2
Air Quality
Compton Station Specific Plan Area - Existing
Los Angeles-South Coast County, Winter
1.1 Land Usage
1.0 Project Characteristics
CalEEMod Version: CalEEMod.2020.4.0
Date: 3/24/2022 2:49 PM