8251 West Melrose Avenue (ENV-2024-3203-CE)
Summary
SCH Number
2025101424
Public Agency
City of Los Angeles
Document Title
8251 West Melrose Avenue (ENV-2024-3203-CE)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/29/2025
Document Description
The project is located at 8251-8271 West Melrose Avenue and 705-711 North Harper Avenue. The proposed project includes the demolition of an existing 15,374 square-foot commercial building, an existing 3,270 square-foot commercial building, an existing 2,580 square-foot commercial building, an existing 3,188 square-foot commercial building, and an associated surface parking lot, and the construction, use, and maintenance of a six (6)-story mixed-use building consisting of 90 dwelling units and 15,271 square feet of commercial retail uses, resulting in a total floor area of 110,300 square-feet. The project will have a height of 69 feet and a floor area ratio (FAR) of 4.52:1. The project proposes 96 automobile parking spaces on-site within two (2) subterranean levels; and 94 bicycle parking spaces (78 long-term and 16 short-term) on-site at ground level and one (1) subterranean level. The proposed unit mix consists of 68 one-bedroom units, 17 two-bedroom units, and five (5) three-bedroom units. There are three (3) existing Street Trees in the public right-of-way adjacent to the project site. The Applicant will maintain three (3) existing Street Trees and plant three (3) new Street Trees and 20 trees on-site. There are no existing Protected Trees on-site. The development of the Project would require the cut and export of approximately 20,194 cubic yards (cy) of soil. The Applicant does not propose import or fill amounts. The project is required to provide 9,800 square feet of open space and is providing a total of 7,840 square feet of open space.
Contact Information
Name
Nashya Sadono-Jensen
Agency Name
City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning
Job Title
Planning Associate
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Jordan Beroukhim
Agency Name
Beroukhim & Company, LLC
Job Title
Representative
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Melrose Ave & Harper Ave
Zip
90029
Other Location Info
PROJECT LOCATION:
8251-8271 West Melrose Avenue and 705-711 North Harper Avenue
Other Information
NAME OF APPLICANT / OWNER:
David Pourbaba, Tova LLC & Melrose Harper LLC
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15332 – Class 32
Reasons for Exemption
A project qualifies for a Class 32 Categorical Exemption if it is developed on an infill site and meets the conditions as follows: (a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with the applicable zoning designation and regulations; (b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses; (c) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species; (d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; and (e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
(a) The project is consistent with applicable general plan designation, applicable policies, and applicable zoning designations.
The subject site is located within the Hollywood Community Plan area. An updated Hollywood Community Plan was adopted by City Council on May 9, 2023, and became operative on February 11, 2025. The project was filed on May 21, 2024, as a Vesting Housing Crisis Act project and is vested to the local planning and zoning rules that were in place at the time the complete application was submitted. Therefore, the project is not subject to the new Hollywood Community Plan and its Community Plan Implementation Overlay. The applicable zoning and land use designation for the site is C4-1XL for Neighborhood Office Commercial land uses. As shown in the case file, the project is consistent with the applicable Hollywood Community Plan designation and policies and all applicable zoning designations and regulations in conjunction with the Density Bonus/Affordable Housing Incentive Program.
(b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses.
The subject site is wholly within the City of Los Angeles, on a site that is approximately 0.56 acres. The surrounding area is characterized by level topography, improved streets and residential and commercial development. The lots directly to the south of the site across Melrose Avenue are zoned C4-1XL and are improved with two (2)-story commercial buildings. The lot to the east of the site across Harper Avenue is zoned C4-1XL and is improved with a surface parking lot and a two (2)-story commercial building. The lots abutting the site to the west are zoned C4-1XL and are improved with a six (6)-story commercial building. The lots to the north of the site across the alley along Harper Avenue are zoned R2-1XL and are zoned with one (1) to two (2)-story single-family dwellings. The lots to the north of the site across the alley along Sweetzer Avenue are zoned [Q]R3-1 and are improved with two (2) to five (5)-story multi-family residences.
(c) The project has no value as a habitat for endangered species, rare, or threatened species.
The site previously disturbed and surrounded by development and therefore is not, and has no value as, a habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species. The applicant submitted a Tree Disclosure Statement, signed by the property owner, David Pourbaba, confirming that there are no protected trees on-site.
(d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
The project will be subject to Regulatory Compliance Measures (RCMs), which require compliance with the City of Los Angeles Noise Ordinance, pollutant discharge, dewatering, stormwater mitigations, and Best Management Practices for stormwater runoff. These RCMs will ensure the project will not have significant impacts on noise and water.
Furthermore, the City of Los Angeles Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Calculator resulted in the proposed project having a net increase of 230 daily vehicle trips and a net increase of 1,220 daily VMT. Based on the VMT Calculator, the project is not required to perform VMT analysis under the VMT standards.
Interim thresholds were developed by DCP staff based on CalEEMod model runs relying on reasonable assumptions, consulting with AQMD staff, and surveying published air quality studies for which criteria air pollutants did not exceed the established SCAQMD construction and operational thresholds. Therefore, the project would not result in any significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
(e) The proposed project has been reviewed by City staff and can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
The project site will be adequately served by all public utilities and services given that the construction of a residential building will be on a site which has been previously developed and is consistent with the General Plan. Therefore, the project meets all of the Criteria for the Class 32. As the project has been found to be categorically exempt from CEQA, the project is not anticipated to have a negative effect on the environment and no mitigation measures are required.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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