Community Partner Greening Projects on Twelve LA Unified Campuses
Summary
SCH Number
2025070634
Public Agency
Los Angeles Unified School District
Document Title
Community Partner Greening Projects on Twelve LA Unified Campuses
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/16/2025
Document Description
The scope of the Community Partner Greening Projects include the removal of existing asphalt and replacement with greening improvements such as planting of trees, addition of gardens, and construction of unstructured play space to create living schoolyards on twelve Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified or District) school campuses; 116th St. Elementary School (ES), 74th St. ES, Barrett ES, Eastman ES, Florence ES, Grape ES, Independence ES, Lillian ES, Miles ES, Parmelee ES, State ES, and Vista del Valle Dual Language Academy (Campuses) (Project) (Figure 1 through 12). The community partner proposing the project, TreePeople, was awarded a grant in the amount of $12,172,022 provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Resource Management Grant Program. The grant will fund the entire Project’s cost.
The Project will be implemented per all applicable State, federal, and local regulations, as well as all District Standards and Specifications; such as those provided in the updated Standard Conditions of Approval for District Construction, Upgrade, and Improvements Projects (SCs) as adopted by the Board of Education in December 2023. Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified) SCs, design guidelines, and best management practices are designed to be incorporated into the Project design in order to avoid or limit potential adverse impacts associated with the District’s projects.
The beneficiaries of this Project are students, faculty, staff, families, and school supporters located at each respective school and the community at large who may request access to the facilities and grounds of the Campuses pursuant to the Civic Center Act (CA Ed. Code Sections 38130 - 38139).
Contact Information
Name
Christy Wong
Agency Name
Los Angeles Unified School District
Job Title
CEQA Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Huntington Park, Los Angeles, San Fernando, South Gate
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
• 116th Street Elementary School - 11610 Stanford Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059
• 74th Street Elementary School - 2112 W 74th St, Los Angeles, CA 90047
• Charles W. Barrett Elementary School - 419 W 98th St, Los Angeles, CA 90003
• Eastman Avenue Elementary School - 4112 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
• Florence Avenue Elementary School - 7211 Bell Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001
• Grape Street Elementary School - 1940 E 111th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059
• Independence Elementary School - 8435 Victoria Ave, South Gate, CA 90280
• Lillian Street Elementary School - 5909 Lillian St, Los Angeles, CA 90001
• Miles Avenue Elementary School - 6720 Miles Ave, Huntington Park, CA 90255
• Parmelee Avenue Elementary School - 1338 E 76th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90001
• State Street Elementary School - 3211 Santa Ana St, South Gate, CA 90280
• Vista del Valle Dual Language Academy - 12441 Bromont Ave, San Fernando, CA 91340
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15302, 15314
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301 Existing Facilities
Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination.
The Project consists of the removal of existing asphalt and replacement with greening improvements such as planting of trees, and construction of unstructured play space to create living schoolyards on twelve LA Unified Campuses. The Project will increase green space and create living schoolyards consisting of native planting areas, learning garden, reading garden, outdoor classroom, and/or grass field.
The Project will occur in existing outdoor areas at the Project sites and would constitute operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing public structures involving no expansion of the facilities’ use. Therefore, the Project constitutes minor alterations to existing school sites that result in no expansion of use and meets the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
Section 15302 Replacement or Reconstruction
Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
The Project includes upgrades or replacement of existing structures and facilities, such as the removal of asphalt and
replacement with nature-based designs and greening improvements The Project would not change the location, or the purpose of the structures and facilities being replaced and will not expand the capacity of the Campuses. Therefore, the Project satisfies the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15302.
Section 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land
Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.
The Project includes the installation of trees; native planting areas; garden areas; and grass fields. The Project will not remove healthy, mature, or scenic trees. Therefore, the Project fulfills the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15304.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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