NOTICE OF PREPARATION
OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
DATE: November 1, 2024
TO: Agencies, Organizations, and Interested Parties
PROJECT TITLE: La Sierra High School Track and Field Project
SUBJECT: Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Alvord Unified School District (AUSD or District), as Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for the La Sierra High School Track and Field Project pursuant to the California Public Resources Code (PRC), Division 13, Section 21000 et seq. (CEQA Statute) and the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Section 15000 et seq. (CEQA Guidelines).
The purpose of the Notice of Preparation is to (1) serve as a public notice of an EIR pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15082, and (2) advise and solicit comments and suggestions regarding the scope and content of the EIR to be prepared. The District, as Lead Agency, respectfully requests that any responsible and trustee agencies responding to this notice respond in a manner consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15082(b). Comments and suggestions should, at a minimum, identify the significant environmental issues, reasonable alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be explored in the EIR, in addition to whether the responding agency will be a responsible or trustee agency for the proposed project, and any related issues raised by interested parties.
In compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(d) and 15082, the District will not be preparing an initial study and will begin work directly on the Draft EIR.
PROJECT LOCATION: The project site consists of the track and field, parking lot(*), and tennis courts(*) at the La Sierra High School (La Sierra HS) campus located at 4145 La Sierra Avenue, in the La Sierra Neighborhood of Riverside, in Riverside County (see Figure 1, Aerial Photograph). The La Sierra HS campus is surrounded by residential uses, Collett Avenue, and Collett Elementary School to the north; and residential uses to the east, south, and west. The campus is zoned Single Family Residential Zone (R-1-7000), and the campus has a land use designation of Public Facilities/Institutions (PF). (*These areas of the project site, while included in the analysis, are intended for a potential future project and will not be included in the scope of the current project.)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The District is proposing to renovate the existing track and field; add field lighting, public address (PA) system, scoreboard, bleachers to accommodate 2,800 spectators(*); construct a 5,500-square-foot field house that would include restrooms, ticket office, storage, concessions stand, and team room(*); relocate the existing tennis courts(*); and repave and restripe the 134,000-square-foot parking lot(*). New access from the parking lot to the bleachers would be constructed(*). The proposed project would reduce the number of parking spaces by 136 parking stalls(*); (see Figure 2, Conceptual Site Plan). The proposed project would not impact student or staff capacity at La Sierra HS. (*These design elements, while included in this analysis, are intended for a potential future project and will not be included in the scope of the current project; the current project would include a smaller scope and therefore the analysis in the DEIR will be conservative.)
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: In accordance with Section 15082 of the CEQA Guidelines, the District has prepared this Notice of Preparation to provide agencies, organizations, and interested parties with information describing the proposed project and its potential environmental effects. Environmental factors that will be analyzed in the Draft EIR are:
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PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: The 30-day public review period for the NOP is from Friday, November 1, 2024, to Thursday, December 5, 2024. In accordance with the time limits mandated by State law, if there are any concerns about the scope and content of the information to be addressed in EIR, please send written comments to the District, at the address below, at the earliest possible date but not later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2024. This NOP is also available at:
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Please send your comments to:
Alvord Unified School District
Facilities Department
9 KPC Parkway, Corona, CA 92879
ATTN: Ryan Carter, Director III, Facilities
Comments can also be sent by e-mail to ryan.carter@alvordschools.org. Please include “La Sierra HS Track and Field Project” in the subject line. If you require additional information, please contact Ryan Carter at (951) 509-5113.
SCOPING MEETING: The District will hold a scoping meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The meeting will be held in-person at 9 KPC Parkway, Corona, CA 92879 in the Board Room on the first floor.
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to present the proposed project, describe the EIR process, and to receive public comments. The District invites interested parties to participate in the scoping meeting for the proposed project in order to learn more about the project, ask questions, and submit comments.