Universal City Project EIR Available for Public Review - Comment Deadline ExtendedBurbank City Newsroom: November 5, 2010
Update: The deadline to submit comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed "NBC Universal Evolution Plan" has been extended to February 4, 2011.
The City of Los Angeles has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed "NBC Universal Evolution Plan" for public review. The EIR analyzes the possible environmental impacts from the proposed project, which would be located in the Universal City area next to Burbank.
Although the project is not located within the City of Burbank, it will have effects on Burbank. As such, Burbank residents and businesses may wish to review the EIR and submit comments. The proposed project includes substantial new development at and around Universal Studios including about 2.01 million square feet of new commercial development, 500 hotel rooms, and 2,937 residential units.
The EIR and additional information about the project can be viewed online at the Los Angeles Planning Department's web site. Because of the size of the document, each section may be downloaded separately. CD-ROMs with electronic copies of the EIR may be purchased from the City of Los Angeles by contacting Mariana Salazar at (213) 978-1882.
Hard copies of the EIR are available for public review at the following locations in the City of Burbank:
~ Central Library - 110 North Glenoaks Boulevard
~ Buena Vista Branch Library - 300 North Buena Vista Street
~ City Clerk's Office - 275 East Olive Avenue
~ Community Services Building - 1st Floor Permit Center & 2nd Floor Public Counter - 150 N Third
Comments on the EIR must be submitted in writing to the City of Los Angeles no later than February 4, 2011. Comments must be submitted to:
Jon Foreman - Senior City Planner
City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning
200 North Spring Street, Room 601 - Los Angeles, California 90012
fax: (213) 978-6566
email: jon.foreman@lacity.org
Burbank Central Library and the Buena Vista Branch each have a complete set of the 27 volume report and circulating copies on CD. The Northwest Branch has a Reference copy.
View the NBC Universal Evolution Plan Environmental Impact Report online.
Copies of the full Draft EIR document or any of the documents referenced in the Draft EIR are also available @:
Francis Howard Goldwyn-Hollywood Regional Library
1623 Ivar Avenue - Hollywood, CA 90028
North Hollywood Regional Library
5211 Tujunga Avenue - North Hollywood, CA 91601
Studio City Branch Library
12511 Moorpark Street - Studio City, CA 9160
County Department of Regional Planning
320 West Temple Street, 13th Floor - Room 1362 - Los Angeles, CA 90012
Los Angeles Central Library
630 West 5th Street - Los Angeles, CA 90071
PURCHASE - On CD-ROM for $7.50 per copy
Contact: Mariana Salazar, of the City of Los Angeles
(213) 978-1882
Report on NBC's Universal Evolution Almost As Large As Project Itself
LA Curbed: November 5, 2010 by Dakota Smith
. . . . . And below, just some elements about this project, which will be built in phases. (And yup, this project, which will rise both on city and county land, is still expected to cost at least $3 billion.)
---A total of 2,937 residential dwelling units and 115,000 square feet of retail/commercial uses are planned. Additionally, a 500-space hotel would be built. Approximately 638,000 square feet of existing studio, office, and entertainment uses would be demolished.
---The project is so big that a new regional branch would need to be constructed to meet City’s library service standards.
---An extensive bike path network within the project is planed, one with bike rack and locks at various locations along the route.
--In the same way that LA Live has its own specific plan, NBC Universal is asking for two new specific plans (one for the city and one for the LA County). Under this new specific plan, they are requesting signage--which would range from supergraphics to electronic signs--on their buildings.
--The impact of the overall project on the surrounding neighborhoods is broken down in this report. It's too detailed to get into for each neighborhood, but if, for instance, you live in Hollywood Manor, you can read about the possible effects. All of that information is in the summary. Click on the report on the City Planning's web site, and then pull down Volume 1, "Introduction/Summary." You may also want to click on the other Volume tabs, as they deal with issues like noise, glare, etc.
--As far as traffic, the site is expected to generate a net increase of 28,108 daily trips on a typical weekday, including approximately 2,328 morning peak hour trips and 2,770 afternoon peak hour trips.
--New roadways would be built, while numerous roads will be widened: Among then, Buddy Holly Drive between Barham Boulevard and the US 101 northbound off-ramp shall be widened from its current state. READ MORE !
