Article 28 — ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REGULATIONS

In accordance with Section 15022(d) of the California Administrative Code and subject to the particular amendments and deletions hereinafter set forth in this Article, Section 15000 et seq., of the California Administrative Code, commonly known as the "Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act" and also as the "State CEQA Guidelines," and copy of which is

filed in the office of the City Clerk, is hereby adopted by reference and incorporated herein and made a part of this Chapter as though set forth herein at length. (Ord. 2426 9-21-82; Ord. 2518 9-17-85)

Section 15021 of the State CEQA Guidelines establishes a duty for the City of Inglewood, and all its component agencies, to avoid or minimize damage to the environment where feasible within its authority to regulate public or private activities and projects. (Ord. 2518 9-17-85)

In accordance with Section 15268(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, specific projects and activities in the City of Inglewood that are deemed to be ministerial projects and thereby exempt from the requirements of CEQA include, but are not limited to:

• A. Building permits, and related permits issued by the Inglewood Division of Building and Safety for the excavation and construction of building foundations.

• B. Certificates of Occupancy.

• C. Permits issued by the Inglewood Fire Department as required by the Uniform Fire Code and amendments thereto.

• D. Oil well permit, for which location a Special Use Permit has been previously granted.

• E. Business licenses and related permits issued by the Permits and Licenses Committee.

• F. Site Plan Review of a proposed project located within a community plan area (e.g., Transit Oriented Development Plan Area, Specific Plan Area, etc.) where a community level Environmental Review was certified or adopted within ten years of the date that the proposed project application is deemed complete and the proposed project incorporates relevant mitigation from said environmental review. (Exception: any consideration by the Planning Commission of an appeal of any requirement imposed under the provisions of Site Plan Review shall constitute a discretionary consideration and shall be subject to the requirements of CEQA.)

• G. Plot plan reviews and lot line adjustments approved pursuant to the Hollywood Park Specific Plan, and any appeals thereof.

• (Ord. 2426 9-21-82; Ord. 2518 9-17-85; Ord. 15-10 2-24-15; Ord. 22-17 9-20-22)

In accordance with Section 15300.4 of the State CEQA Guidelines, specific projects and activities in the City of Inglewood that are deemed to be categorically exempt from the requirements of CEQA include, but are not limited to:

• A. Building permits and related permits issued by the Inglewood Division of Building and Safety for electrical, plumbing or mechanical alterations in existing structures. (CEQA Class 1 exemption.)

• B. Permits issued by the Inglewood Engineering Department for the construction or repair of curbs, gutters, sidewalks or driveways along existing streets. (CEQA Class 1 exemption.)

• C. Permits to install overhead utility service underground. (CEQA Class 2 exemption.)

• D. Permits for utility extensions and connections. (CEQA Class 3 exemption.)

• E. Fence permits. (CEQA Class 3 exemption.)

• F. Grading permit, on land having an average slope less than ten percent and other than for building foundations. (CEQA Class 4 exemption.)

• G. Excavation permit, where the surface is required by the permit to be subsequently restored. (CEQA Class 4 exemption.)

• H. Permits for minor uses of property of limited time duration issued by the Permits and Licenses Committee. (CEQA Class 4 exemption.)

• I. Permits for the temporary use of public rights-of-way for the moving of structures and other oversize and/or overweight loads. (CEQA Class 4 exemption.)

• J. Zone adjustments, nonconforming building minor modification permit and sign adjustments. (CEQA Class 5 exemption.)

• K. Encroachment permits. (CEQA Class 5 exemption.)

• L. Sign permits, for on-site signs only. (CEQA Class 11 exemption.)

• M. Parcel maps, when in compliance with the limitations specified in said Guidelines. (CEQA Class 15 exemption.)

N. Implementation of an adopted housing assistance plan. (CEQA Class 26 exemption.) (Ord. 2518 9-17-85; Ord. 09-05 2-24-09)

The amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines, referenced in Section 12-100 of this Article, are hereby established to read as follows:

• A. Section 15063(a) of the CEQA Guidelines is hereby amended to read as follows:

  • (a) Following preliminary review, the reviewing City agency (lead agency) shall prepare an Initial Study upon receipt from the applicant of the environmental review fee specified in the Master Fee Schedule, to determine if the project may have a significant effect on the environment. All phases of project planning, implementation and operation must be considered in the Initial Study of the project.

• B. Section 15356 of the CEQA Guidelines is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Decision-making body" means the Planning and Building Department Director, the Planning Commission, the City Council, or other City official or agency that has the specified authority to grant final approval of the subject project, exclusive of any agency with higher authority that may subsequently consider the appeal of the approval or denial made by the decision-making body.

• C. Section 15378(a) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which defines "Project," is hereby amended to read as follows:

  • (3) An activity involving the issuance by one or more public agencies to a person or agency of a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement for use, excluding those specifically exempted by State law. Projects and activities in the City of Inglewood that are deemed to be projects subject to the requirements of CEQA include, but are not limited to, the following;

    1. Granting of a Special Use Permit or variance;

    2. Change of zone classification for any property;

    3. Approval of a planned assembly development;

    4. Approval of any off-site sign or billboard.

• D. Section 15064.3 (Determining the Significance of Transportation Impacts) is hereby amended to read as follows:

  • (1) Purpose. This section describes specific considerations for evaluating a project's transportation impacts. Generally, vehicle miles traveled is the most appropriate measure of transportation impacts. For the purposes of this section "vehicle miles traveled" refers to the amount and distance of automobile travel attributable to a project. Other relevant considerations may include the effects of the project on transit and non-motorized travel.

  • (2) Criteria for Analyzing Transportation Impacts. The eligibility of land use and transportation projects, qualitative analysis and methodology requirements shall be outlined in Inglewood's Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines, which may be updated from time to time by Resolution of the City Council.

• (Ord. 2518 9-17-85; Ord. 93-06 4-13-93; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08; Ord. 13-04 11-5-13; Ord. 14-01 2-1114; Ord. 23-03 11-15-22)

The appendices to the State CEQA Guidelines are hereby deleted from incorporation into this Article. (Ord. 2518 9-17-85)

In accordance with Chapter 10, Section 10-150 , prior to approval of any development project for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or based on a local determination, regional and municipal fixed-route transit operators providing service to the project shall be identified and consulted with. Pursuant to the provisions of CEQA, transit operators shall be sent a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for all contemplated EIRs and shall, as part of the NOP process, be given opportunity to comment on the impacts of the project, to identify recommended transit service or capital improvements which may be required as a result of the project, and to recommend mitigation measures which minimize automobile trips on the CMP network. Impacts and recommended mitigation measures identified by the transit operator shall be evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) prepared for the project. Related mitigation measures adopted shall be monitored through the mitigation monitoring requirements of CEQA. Phased development projects, development projects subject to a development agreement, or development projects requiring subsequent approvals, need not repeat this process as long as no significant changes are made to the project. It shall remain the discretion of the lead agency to determine when a project is substantially the same and therefore covered by a previously certified EIR. (Ord. 93-06 4-13-93)