Project Homekey – Sands and Tropic Motels, Lancaster
Summary
SCH Number
2022020316
Public Agency
Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
(DPW)
Document Title
Project Homekey – Sands and Tropic Motels, Lancaster
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/14/2022
Document Description
The State's Homekey Program (Homekey), has made funding available for local jurisdictions to purchase hotels and other properties to be used as interim and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) who are impacted by COVID-19. In September 2021, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the availability of approximately $1.45 billion of Homekey grant funding through its Round 2 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). In late October 2021, the County's Chief Executive Office (CEO) released a Request for Statement of Interest (RFSI) for the identification of nonprofit or for-profit entities (Corporations) to apply jointly with the County of Los Angeles (County) for the Homekey Round 2 NOFA. Selected Corporations would own and, in some cases, operate properties acquired through Homekey Round 2. The County received more than 30 responses to the RFSI, which were reviewed by a panel of experts. After this review, the County identified 11 Corporations with whom to submit Application(s) to HCD by January 31, 2022. Selected Corporations have performed due diligence on the properties to ensure the properties are appropriate for use as interim or permanent supportive housing for PEH, and to support a fair market purchase price for the properties. The State's Homekey Round 2 funds will be used to pay for the cost to acquire, develop, and/or rehabilitate each property. In some cases, a local match will be required to acquire, develop, and/or rehabilitate each property. On January 25, 2021, the County authorized applications and agreements for 19 proposed Homekey projects, and found the projects to be exempt from CEQA. This Project consists of a 38-unit group of two adjacent motels that will be renovated for interim housing.
Contact Information
Name
Elizabeth Ben-Ishai
Agency Name
Chief Executive Office – Homeless Initiative
Job Title
Principal Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Lancaster
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Zip
93534
Other Location Info
Sands and Tropics Motels, 43135 & 43145 Sierra Hwy, Lancaster, CA 93534
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Pub. Res. Code Sec. 21080(b)(4); Guidelines Sec. 15269(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project utilizes Homekey grant funds and other public funds and will provide housing units for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The Project consists of a 38-unit group of two adjacent motels that will be renovated for interim housing. Fifteen percent of the site will be ADA compliant. In addition, four rooms will be renovated to meet the needs for hearing and vision impaired residents. The site will also be renovated to include a staff break room, two offices, and an open office space for staff and management needs. A “classroom” will also be included onsite for any community meeting needs and a food storage room will be repurposed from current open spaces. The current pool area will be renovated to become an outdoor dining and play area.
The Project is exempt from CEQA because it meets the requirements Government Code Section 65660 et seq., as it will be a "low barrier navigation center", as defined therein, and Public Resources Code Section 21080.50, as it is an "interim motel housing project" as defined therein. Further, the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15269(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, the current homelessness crisis facing the County. The Project is also categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) because the Project consists of the renovation of an existing motel for interim housing purposes with negligible or no expansion of its existing or former use, and 15332 (Infill Development) because the Project is urban in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning, is within in a city on a site of no more than five acres, has no value as habitat, will not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and will be adequately served by existing utilities and public services. The Project is also exempt pursuant to Class 1 of the County's Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G. In addition, based on the record of the Project, it will comply with all applicable regulations, and is not in a sensitive environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, damage to scenic highways, listing on hazardous waste site lists compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or indication that it may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource that would make the exemptions inapplicable.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 Existing Facilities, CEQA Guidelines Sect 15301 and Class 32 Infill Development, CEQA Guidelines Sect 15332
Reasons for Exemption
The Project utilizes Homekey grant funds and other public funds and will provide housing units for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The Project consists of a 38-unit group of two adjacent motels that will be renovated for interim housing. Fifteen percent of the site will be ADA compliant. In addition, four rooms will be renovated to meet the needs for hearing and vision impaired residents. The site will also be renovated to include a staff break room, two offices, and an open office space for staff and management needs. A “classroom” will also be included onsite for any community meeting needs and a food storage room will be repurposed from current open spaces. The current pool area will be renovated to become an outdoor dining and play area.
The Project is exempt from CEQA because it meets the requirements Government Code Section 65660 et seq., as it will be a "low barrier navigation center", as defined therein, and Public Resources Code Section 21080.50, as it is an "interim motel housing project" as defined therein. Further, the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15269(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, the current homelessness crisis facing the County. The Project is also categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) because the Project consists of the renovation of an existing motel for interim housing purposes with negligible or no expansion of its existing or former use, and 15332 (Infill Development) because the Project is urban in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning, is within in a city on a site of no more than five acres, has no value as habitat, will not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and will be adequately served by existing utilities and public services. The Project is also exempt pursuant to Class 1 of the County's Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G. In addition, based on the record of the Project, it will comply with all applicable regulations, and is not in a sensitive environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, damage to scenic highways, listing on hazardous waste site lists compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or indication that it may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource that would make the exemptions inapplicable.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Gov. Code Sec. 65660, et seq., and Pub. Res. Code Sec. 21080.50
Reasons for Exemption
The Project utilizes Homekey grant funds and other public funds and will provide housing units for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The Project consists of a 38-unit group of two adjacent motels that will be renovated for interim housing. Fifteen percent of the site will be ADA compliant. In addition, four rooms will be renovated to meet the needs for hearing and vision impaired residents. The site will also be renovated to include a staff break room, two offices, and an open office space for staff and management needs. A “classroom” will also be included onsite for any community meeting needs and a food storage room will be repurposed from current open spaces. The current pool area will be renovated to become an outdoor dining and play area.
The Project is exempt from CEQA because it meets the requirements Government Code Section 65660 et seq., as it will be a "low barrier navigation center", as defined therein, and Public Resources Code Section 21080.50, as it is an "interim motel housing project" as defined therein. Further, the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15269(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, the current homelessness crisis facing the County. The Project is also categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) because the Project consists of the renovation of an existing motel for interim housing purposes with negligible or no expansion of its existing or former use, and 15332 (Infill Development) because the Project is urban in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning, is within in a city on a site of no more than five acres, has no value as habitat, will not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and will be adequately served by existing utilities and public services. The Project is also exempt pursuant to Class 1 of the County's Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G. In addition, based on the record of the Project, it will comply with all applicable regulations, and is not in a sensitive environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, damage to scenic highways, listing on hazardous waste site lists compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or indication that it may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource that would make the exemptions inapplicable.
County Clerk
Los Angeles