City of Santa Monica - Planning

Environmental Reports
This page has information related to all environmental documents being administered by the City Planning Division. Consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act, environmental review is required for all discretionary projects, including City-initiated projects and private development projects. Those projects that are not clearly exempt from CEQA may require the preparation of a (Mitigated) Negative Declaration or Environmental Impact Report. Also available on this page are archived environmental documents that have completed the review process.

Pier Access Improvement Project
This project evaluates alternatives to provide improved pedestrian and vehicle access to Santa Monica Pier and the adjacent parking lot.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report is now available for review and comment. The comment period runs from August 7, 2006 to September 20, 2006. There will be two public meetings to discuss the project: the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Committee meeting on Monday, August 21, 2006; and the Landmarks Commission meeting on Monday, September 11, 2006. See notice for time and location of meetings.

Rincon Consultants is assisting the City in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Report. The contract amount to assess the environmental impacts is $377,861. For more information, contact Sarah LeJeune, AICP, Associate Planner.

California Incline Replacement Project
This project involves the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the California Avenue Incline Bridge. The Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report is available for review. The review period is for 30-days beginning April 24, 2006. Comments may be submitted in writing by 5:30 p.m. on May 29, 2006. For more information, contact Jim Creager, Civil Engineering Division.

2834 Colorado Avenue, Colorado Creative Studio Project
The proposed project, which is located at the south east corner of Colorado Avenue and Stewart Street, would result in demolition of the existing buildings onsite and the construction of a 151,600 square foot (sf), five-story creative studio building over a 2½ level subterranean parking garage. The proposed studio building is designed to be occupied by a single multi-media entertainment company that develops, produces and distributes movies, music, television and video content. The proposed project also includes the development of a new public street extending Pennsylvania Avenue across the southern portion of the project site and would connect to Stanford Street at some time in the future.

Also included in the proposal is an approximately 3,000 sf detached childcare center with 13,500 sf of open space for an outdoor play area. The day care facility would be designed to accommodate up to 50 toddlers and infants with enrolment open to the public. Separate driveway access from Stewart Street with a surface parking area that includes spaces for checking children in and out of the childcare facility is proposed. Pursuant to State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the Notice of Preparation was published on December 29, 2008 and circulated for a 30-day review period.

The applicant has requested the following discretionary permits: Development Agreement (DEV) for the overall project and a General Plan Amendment (GPA) to allow the proposed five-story building on a parcel that is less than five acres in size. Rincon Consultants was selected to prepare the Environmental Impact Report for this project. The contract to prepare this document is paid by the developer. The Notice of Availability and Draft EIR are now available for a 45-day public review and written comment period with the closing comment date of January 5, 2010. Send written comments to, or for more information regarding the project, please contact Bruce Leach, Special Projects Administrator. Additional notice will be given when public hearings are scheduled before the Planning Commission and City Council.

2919-2923 Wilshire Boulevard Mixed Use Project
The 22,119 square foot (SF) project site consists of two existing parcels (2919 and 2923 Wilshire Blvd) situated at the west corner of the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Stanford Street within the City of Santa Monica. The proposed project involves the demolition of the existing one-story brick structure, as well as the paved surface parking lot, to construct a mixed-use development with 11,595 SF of commercial retail on the ground floor to be used as a specialty grocery store and 26 apartment units on the second through fourth floors (25,782 SF of residential use). The project would also involve excavation to construct two-levels of subterranean parking with 100 parking spaces. One level (P1) would be reserved for customers of the grocery store (46 total spaces) while the lower level (P2) would be reserved for residents of the apartment units (56 spaces). The project proposes to take access from Stanford Street to both the parking garage and a loading area for delivery trucks. The applicant has applied for a Development Review permit for a development project exceeding 22,500 SF of floor area. In addition, the project applicant has applied for a Variance request to allow a modification of the City’s driveway requirements in order to locate a driveway within a required yard setback. The project will be constructed with techniques consistent with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification pursuant to the requirements of Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.08.26.060.

Rincon Consultants has been selected to prepare the Environmental Impact Report for this project. The contract amount to prepare this document is $91,567 (paid by the developer). The Notice of Availability and Draft EIR are now available for a 45-day public review period with the closing comment date of August 28, 2009. To send comments or for more information regarding the project, please contact Grace Cho, Associate Planner. Planning Commission Hearing: December 2, 2009.

1639 11^th Street Artist Studio Project
This proposed project involves the construction of a 45-foot, three-story building to accommodate 66 artist studio condominium units on a 36,187square foot parcel. The building would be approximately 53,725 square feet over a subterranean parking garage with 163 spaces. The existing 28,416 square foot, two-story multi-tenant manufacturing building with offices would be demolished. The applicant has requested the following discretionary permits: Development Review Permit (DR 06-012) for a project exceeding 7,500 square feet of floor area; Design Compatibility Permit (DCP 06-008) for a condominium use in the M-1 District; Tentative Tract Map (TM06-027) for the air rights subdivision to create 66 condominium units. Pursuant to State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, a Notice of Preparation was published on February 15, 2008 and circulated for a 30-day review period.

Rincon Consultants has been selected to prepare the Environmental Impact Report for this project. The contract amount to prepare this document is $59,423 (paid by the developer). The Draft EIR is now available for public review with the closing comment date of December 1, 2008. Notice of Availability. ]To send comments or for more information regarding the project, please contact Laura Beck, AICP, Associate Planner. NOTE: this project is on hold at the applicant's request.

T-Mobile Wireless Site at 1411 7th Street
This project involves a request to install, operate and maintain an unmanned wireless telecommunication facility on the rooftop of an existing, 5-story mixed-use building. An Initial Study and Negative Declaration have been prepared for the project and are currently available for public review and comment. A 20-day public review period for the Negative Declaration will commence on April 8, 2008 and end on April 28, 2008. Any comments on the Negative Declaration must be received within the public review period. Comments may be submitted, in writing, by 5:30 p.m. on April 28, 2008. To send comments, or to receive more information about this project, please contact Lily Yegazu, Associate Planner.

1610 Colorado Avenue Artist Loft
This proposed project involves the construction of a 45-foot, three-story building consisting of 91 artist studio condominium units on a 47,589 square foot parcel. The building would have approximately 71,298 square feet of floor area over two levels of subterranean parking consisting of 196 spaces. The project would require the demolition of the existing 37,254 square foot office building. The applicant has applied for the following discretionary permits: a Development Review Permit (DR 06-011) for a project exceeding 15,000 square feet of floor area; Design Compatibility Permit (DCP 06-007) for a condominium use in the M-1 District; and a Tentative Map (TM 07-026).

As specified by the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the Notice of Preparation will be circulated for a 30-day review period. The City of Santa Monica welcomes agency and public input during this period regarding the scope and content of environmental information. Comments may be submitted, in writing, by 5:30 p.m. on January 2, 2008. For more information regarding this project, please contact Grace Cho, Associate Planner. NOTE: this project is on hold at the applicant's request.

SANTA MONICA PLACE REMODEL
The City of Santa Monica has retained Rincon Consultants to prepare an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Santa Monica Place Remodel at 395 Santa Monica Place. The proposed project would involve the remodel of the existing enclosed mall shopping area, and the retention of the two anchor department stores (one anchor store presently occupied by Macy’s and the other was formerly occupied by Robinson’s May) and the two parking structures. The remodeled area will be three levels in height and will accommodate retail and restaurant uses. The proposed remodel would result in a shopping center of 586,453 square feet of building area (compared with a current building area of 677,209 square feet) and remove the portion of Parking Structure 7 which currently overhangs a section of the mall, eliminating 63 parking spaces. The project site includes frontages along Broadway, 4^th Street, Colorado Avenue, and 2^nd Street.

Copies of the Draft Initial Study and proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration on the proposed project may be reviewed at the following locations:
·          City Planning Division Public Counter, Room 111, 1685 Main Street
·          Office of the City Clerk, Room 102, 1685 Main Street
·          Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard

Santa Monica Place Remodel Final Mitigated Negative Declaration August 2007
Remodel Plans The City Council Public Hearing will be in September 2007.

Sarah Lejeune, Senior Planner; City Planning Division; 1685 Main Street, Room 212, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Fax: (310) 458-8341. E-mail: sarah.lejeune@SMGOV.net

1133 Ocean Avenue (Fairmont Miramar Hotel)
The owner of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel is seeking a Development Agreement with the City to add a new wing of hotel rooms, renovate and add to the ballroom wing, and add a separate restaurant building. Approximately 215,000 square of new floor area would be added, including a 14-story hotel tower and 600 parking spaces located in a subterranean garage. The developer has designated 150 of those spaces for public use.

Rincon Consultants has been selected to prepare the Environmental Impact Report for this project. RSG and its sub-consultants have been selected to prepare a Hotel Market Study and Economic Impact Analysis of the proposed project and project alternatives. The contract amounts for these documents are $229,852 and $48,830, respectively (paid by the developer). For more information about this project, please contact Sarah LeJeune, AICP, Associate Planner.

Housing Element 2008-2014: To download the document, CLICK HERE. The final 2008-2017 Housing Element was adopted by the City Council November 11, 2008. CLICK HERE to view the document.