On November 4th, NBC Universal submitted a 39,000 page Draft Environmental Impact Report to the City Planning Dept.
This project, called the “Evolution Plan” by NBC Universal, is proposed to be built in 5 phases over a 20-year period starting immediately upon city approvals. It envisions:
• An estimated 5 MILLION sq feet of development
• Nearly 3,000 new residences (3/4 of Park La Brea) on the Universal back lot which fronts Barham Blvd.
• A projected additional 1.5 million tourists per year to Universal Studios (a 30% increase)
• 36,451 additional daily vehicle trips
• 500 new hotel rooms
• The destruction of the historic Universal back lot (the world’s largest)
“Significant and unavoidable impacts have been identified with regard to traffic… air quality…noise …transportation…solid waste.” Los Angeles City Planning Dept.
The “Evolution Plan” impacts a wide range of issues to the surrounding communities including traffic, air pollution, visual blight, solid waste removal, wildlife protection, noise and schools.
Communities United for Smart Growth has serious concerns about the size and scope of the plan and also the process through which it’s being considered.
For example, according to the traffic study in the report, there will be NO impacts to residential streets in the Cahuenga Pass, Lake Hollywood, Outpost, Hollywood Heights, Whitley Heights or the Hollywood Dell. This doesn’t hold up to logic, knowing how our neighborhoods are already affected by cut-through traffic.
How can our landlocked area withstand 36,451 new car trips? If it can take 45 minutes to drive the 1.1 miles from Pass Ave. up Barham Blvd. at rush hour now, what can we expect with 3000 new residences and commercial property on Barham Blvd. and Forest Lawn Drive?
The applicants have earmarked $90 million in transportation improvements (with an additional $10 million for a study of traffic mitigations at the 101 South – 134 East interchange). Roughly half of the $90 million has been allocated for improving 139 local intersections. The other $45 million is to fund a new slip ramp from Universal Drive onto the 101 and also a Southbound entrance to the 101 near the Metro site. How realistic is it to build these two new ramps for $45 million when the Burbank Hollywood Way on-ramp cost $47 million and 4 1/2 years to complete?
The enhancements to the non-business areas of the Universal property are being made with the hope of drawing more tourists – 1.5 million in Universal’s estimation. Where are the trip generation estimates and the details of other impacts that this significant increase in attendance will bring?
There are plans for shuttle buses and other new mass transit ideas. Yet the only commitment we have is that they will last only for the length of the 20 year construction project. What happens in Year 21?
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, how does the “Evolution Plan” coordinate with the nearby Universal Metro Project already under consideration for development and how can the public weigh the cumulative impacts of simultaneous construction and development projects when the DEIRs are separate and bifurcated?