Timeline for 2012

May 24 - Recirculation of the Draft EIR

In September of last year, we released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the CASP, and opened it to public comment. In the course of reviewing your letters, we discovered that certain aspects of the environmental analysis deserved a closer look – in particular:
  • construction-related air pollution,
  • toxic air contaminants,
  • greenhouse gas emissions,
  • noise from construction, and
  • operational traffic impacts.
As a result, we are updating those portions for recirculation on May 24. All agencies, organizations, and individuals that submitted comments last year will be notified of the recirculation and invited to comment again. A copy of the revised analysis will be available on this website, as well as at the Central, Chinatown, and Lincoln Heights branches of the Los Angeles Public Library. 


August 6 - FEIR & Revised Draft Plan (tentative)

After the second round of public comments has been received, we will make further adjustments to the CASP and its Environmental Impact Report. We anticipate that the Revised Draft Plan and Final EIR will be released on August 6. Both documents will be made available on this website.


August 30 - Open House & Staff Public Hearing (tentative)

Once the Final EIR has been released, the CASP will go to public hearing. The hearing is expected to be scheduled for August 30, and will be held at:

L.A. Conservation Corps
1400 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)


The community is encouraged to attend the CASP Open House, which begins two hours prior to the hearing.

4:30p - 6:30p — Open House
6:30p - 8:30p — Staff Public Hearing


October 11 - City Planning Commission (tentative)

 

Thank you for coming to our meeting on the Draft EIR!

On October 15, 2011, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning and the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) held an informational meeting on the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan. At the meeting, participants: 
  • Provided comments on the Draft EIR
  • Learned about the status of the CRA/LA
  • Learned about the Specific Plan

Comments received in person -- and those submitted by writing -- will be incorporated into the Final EIR, and changes reflecting these comments will be made to the final Specific Plan.


CASP Informational Handout: English
CASP Informational Handout: español
CASP Informational Handout: 中文

AGENDA: LINK



Draft EIR Meeting Flyer in English: LINK
Draft EIR Meeting Flyer in Spanish: LINK
Draft EIR Meeting Flyer in Chinese: LINK
Draft EIR Meeting Flyer in Vietnamese: LINK
Draft EIR Meeting Flyer in Khmer: LINK
Draft EIR Meeting Flyer in Korean: LINK


Draft EIR released September 22, 2011

The Draft EIR for the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan (CASP) was released on Thursday, September 22, 2011. Copies of the Draft EIR are available at the following library branches:

  1. Central Library: 630 W. 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 
        The Science, Technology, & Patents Department
  2. Chinatown Library: 639 N. Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
        Reference Desk
  3. Lincoln Heights Library: 5230 Workman St, Los Angeles, CA 90031
        Reference Desk

The Los Angeles Department of City Planning also has a copy available for review at 200 N. Spring St, Room 667, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 

If you wish to submit comments following review of the Draft EIR, please submit them in writing by November 21, 2011 to:


Claire Bowin, City Planner
Los Angeles Department of City Planning
200 North Spring Street, Room 667
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1477 (fax)

CASP Draft EIR Notice of Availability: LINK

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About the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan (CASP):
CASP will guide the future development of the Project Area (see our boundaries) by creating a series of mixed-use zoning districts that allow private, public, and nonprofit sector developers to combine retail, residential, commercial, civic, and industrial uses while ensuring that this development contributes to a human-scale, engaging urban fabric. Specifically, the four new zoning districts that would result from implementation of the Specific Plan are the following:

  •  Greenways: river-adjacent and park land areas that place an emphasis on balancing native habitat and watershed restoration with public access. The limited amount of building that will be allowed in this area will provide a variety of educational and community benefits.
  • Urban Village: a compact, mixed-use, and transit-oriented community that will accommodate residential and employment uses along with supportive community services such as parks, corner stores, and other retail.
  • Urban Innovation: a flex production area that will allow for employment activities in close proximity to transit service and existing communities. Small-scale craftsman and artisan activities, light industrial, creative and cognitive production, and research and development uses are encouraged.
  • Urban Center: districts that capitalize upon the area’s proximity to fixed-rail, mixed-uses, and open space by providing an intense blend of commercial, light industrial, and institutional opportunities combined with an active ground-floor commercial and retail area. The Urban Center may also include a small percentage of housing.

Two existing residential zoning districts, RD 2-1 and RD 1.5-1, will remain unchanged to protect residential neighborhoods within the Project Area from encroachment by new development. Other requirements that will support the realization of these districts include maximum block lengths, building height requirements based upon the width of adjacent streets and the solar requirements of nearby buildings, and façade design guidelines. The three new “Urban” zoning districts will typically be designated with the new Hybrid Industrial Land Use category, while the new Greenway district will be designated as either Open Space or Public Facility. The project’s zoning approach is bolstered by a Bonus Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Program that offers developers an increased FAR of up to 1.0 by providing open space, community facilities, or other defined public benefits, as well as a Transfer FAR Program that enables properties to transfer their unutilized FAR. 


Schedule:

Following the release of the Draft EIR, a public hearing on the Specific Plan and EIR is expected to be held by the City Planning Commission (CPC) during the first quarter of 2012. The documents will then proceed to council committee and ultimately to a hearing by the full City Council.

 
Due to recent legislative changes that have impacted CRA/LA's current ability to establish new Project Areas, the proposed effort to establish the Redevelopment Plan is currently on hold. It is hoped that the effort may be renewed early in 2012, but it is premature at this time to establish a schedule with any certainty. The process will involve further public meetings and preparation of detailed reports, such as physical and economic blight analyses. At the conclusion of this effort, a joint public hearing will be held by CRA/LA and City Council. If approved, a city ordinance will be adopted recognizing the Redevelopment Plan.


Consultant: 
Arup North America, a planning, design, and consulting firm will lead the environmental impact review (EIR) analysis. 

  • The LA Department of City Planning is available to come to your residents' group, business association, or organization to discuss the Specific Plan. Please contact us at claire.bowin@lacity.org to set a meeting up.
  • Want to know places of interest to walk to from anywhere in the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan? Check out Walkscore.com