Illumination South Whittier Fence
Summary
SCH Number
2025070323
Public Agency
Los Angeles County
Document Title
Illumination South Whittier Fence
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/8/2025
Document Description
The project consists of removing a temporary six-foot-tall construction fence and replacing it with an eight-foot-tall permanent steel fence around a former Days Inn that is currently being operated as a recuperative care center for people experiencing homelessness by the Illumination Foundation. The project responds to neighbor concerns regarding appearance and security and would enhance community compatibility thereby facilitating continued operation of the center. The fence will include a privacy screen on one side to enhance the appearance and provide for greater security. The fence will include automated entry and exit gates (entry on Corley Drive, exit on Telegraph Road) and egress man gates at all exit points. Power for the automated gates will be provided from the existing building infrastructure. There will also be a manual sliding gate along the alley to the west. Construction would take three to four weeks. (Further renovations are not reasonably foreseeable.)
Contact Information
Name
Sarah Mahin
Agency Name
LA County, Department of Health Services,
Job Title
Director, Housing For Health
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Deborah Lever
Agency Name
Housing for Health
Job Title
CIIP Capital projects, Program/Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Whittier
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Citywide, Countywide
Cross Streets
Telegraph Road and Corley Drive
Zip
90604
Total Acres
0.85
State Highways
SR 72 Whittier Boulevard
Schools
ES: La Colima, Scott Ave, Los Altos, Monte Vista, Telechron, ...
Other Location Info
14330 Telegraph Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1; CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project would replace an existing six-foot tall construction fence with an eight-foot-tall steel fence and would facilitate community compatibility and ongoing operations of an existing facility with no change or expansion in use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2; CEQA Guidelines Section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
The project would replace the existing six-foot-tall temporary construction fence and replace it with an eight-foot-tall steel fence in approximately the same location.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3; CEQA guidelines Section 15303
Reasons for Exemption
The installation of a fence qualifies as a small new structure. The project involves minor post installations and anchoring, which are standard activities under this exemption.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4: CEQA Guidelines Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The fence requires digging post holes and setting posts in concrete, which is a minor alteration to land. This exemption provides for "minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored."
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 11; CEQA Guidelines Section 15311
Reasons for Exemption
The fence is an accessory structure to an existing facility and would not expand the use.
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
This project would provide permanent fencing to facilitate the continued use of a former motel to provide recuperative care for people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness in the County of Los Angeles experienced a large increase from 2016 to 2023, with 2024 remaining similar to 2023 (2025 data is not yet available). According to the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, the County of Los Angeles had approximately 75,518 people experiencing homelessness in January 2023 (a 9% increase from the previous year). The County of Los Angeles represents approximately 25 percent of the State of California’s population, but over 40 percent of the state’s unhoused population. On January 10, 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to proclaim a local emergency for homelessness in the County of Los Angeles. Previously, on October 30, 2018, the LA County Board of Supervisors declared a shelter crisis to address homelessness in unincorporated LA County.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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