NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE AMC THEATER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PROJECT
OFFICIAL NOTICE is hereby given on the completion and availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for the proposed AMC Theater Project (proposed project) located at 1318-1320 4th Street in the City of Santa Monica.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project would involve the demolition of an exist- ing 344 space public parking structure (City-owned Parking Structure 3) and development of an approximately 70,000 foot theater (AMC 12) with 12 auditoriums. The project is designed to include approximately 2,167 theater seats, 2,500 square feet of retail tenant space, and 2,250 square feet of interior restaurant/lounge space that would be open to the public, but is primarily intended to serve movie patrons. The proposed new theater building would be up to 56 feet tall. As part of the project, the applicant proposes to reduce a total of approximately 1,597 existing theater seats in the other three AMC-oper- ated venues in the Downtown to achieve a not-to-exceed net increase of 570 seats. This would be accomplished by a combination of modifications to the existing theaters result- ing in fewer seats and/or closing one or more of the existing theaters to achieve the required seat count reduction.
Based on the current schedule of the project, it is projected that there would be no over- lap in the period of time when Parking Structure 3 and Parking Structure 6 are out of serv- ice. Parking Structure 6 would be completed prior to the beginning of Parking Structure 3 demolition. The Interim Downtown Parking Program establishes additional measures to address the loss of parking from demolition of Parking Structure 3 that would occur under the proposed project. Under this plan, up to 104 interim parking spaces would continue to be provided at the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue. These spaces would be available seven days a week until future development at this City-owned site occurs. In addition, up to 250 monthly parkers would be relocated from nearby Parking Structure 5 to either the Main Library Parking Structure or the Civic Center Parking Structure (50 to 50 split), thereby freeing up general public parking spaces at Parking Structure 5.
ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: The Draft EIR analyzed potential environ- mental impacts associated with the proposed project including: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Construction Effects, Cultural Resources, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Effects, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Land Use and Planning, Neighborhood Effects, Noise, Shadows, and Transportation/Traffic.
The Draft EIR determined that implementation of the proposed project will result in the following significant and unavoidable impacts:
Transportation and Traffic
PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: In accordance with CEQA, a minimum 45-day public review period will be provided for all interested persons to submit comments on the adequacy of the Draft EIR. The comment period will start on October 10, 2012 and end at 5:30 p.m. on November 26, 2012. Written comments should be sent to:
Roxanne Tanemori, Senior Planner City Planning Division 1685 Main Street, Room 212 Santa Monica, CA 90401 Email: Roxanne.tanemori@smgov.net
AVAILABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION: The Draft EIR and background materials may be viewed online at http://www01.smgov.net/planning/planningcomm/envi- ronmentalreports.html or in person at the following locations:
City Planning Division Public Counter Room 111 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica Library Main Branch 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA
Office of the City Clerk Room 102 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica Library Fairview Branch 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA
CITY OF SANTA MONICA CITY PLANNING DIVISION 1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 212 SANTA MONICA, CA 90401
