ANNENBERG PROJECT AT LOWER POINT VICENTE
DRAFT EIR – NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY (NOA) The Draft EIR for the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente is now available for public review. Click here to view the Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR. Click here to view the Draft EIR including the Appendices. The 56-day public comment period on the Draft EIR began on July 22, 2010 and concludes on September 15, 2010.  During the public comment period on the Draft EIR, the Planning Commission will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 to receive verbal comments on the Draft EIR.  Additionally, the Traffic Safety Commission will conduct a public meeting on Monday, August 16, 2010 to receive verbal comments solely on the Traffic and Circulation section of the Draft EIR.  Both meetings will be held at Hesse Park Community Room located at 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes at 7:00 p.m.. Written comments may be submitted to the Community Development Department during the 56-day comment period, but no later than September 15, 2010.  All written and verbal comments received by the City during the comment period on the Draft EIR will be addressed in the Responses to Comments section of the Final EIR.   RINCON SERVICE AGREEMENT ADDENDUM The City Council will consider a cost addendum to the service agreement with the environmental consultant (RINCON) preparing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente. This agenda item is on the June 15th Consent Calendar. Click here to view the June 15, 2010 City Council Staff Report PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE INITIAL STUDY The City accepted public comments on the Initial Study to assist in assessing what environmental issues should be analyzed in the forthcoming Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente between February 4, 2010 and Monday, March 8, 2010.  Click here to view the public comment letters on the project’s Initial Study PROJECT SILHOUETTE IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING According to the City’s Development Code, the required silhouette for the proposed Annenberg Building and Outpost Building is available for viewing at this time (constructed in January 2010).  The silhouette will be in place for a limited time and is scheduled to be disassembled after the City’s March 6th Whale-of-a-Day event.  Click here to view the Silhouette Site Plan FEBRUARY 23, 2010 PLANNING COMMISSION SCOPING MEETING On February 23, 2010, the Planning Commission will conduct a scoping meeting to solely receive public comments on what environmental issues should be analyzed in the forthcoming Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente.  The scoping meeting will be held at Hesse Park Community Room located at 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes at 7:00 p.m. Click here to view the February 23, 2010 Planning Commission Staff Report Click here to view late correspondence submitted to the Planning Commission at the February 23rd Meeting Click here to view City Staff’s Power Point Presentation at the February 23rd Planning Commission Meeting Pursuant to CEQA, the City has determined that the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  The "Initial Study" and "Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft EIR" for the project have been completed and are now available for review (see links below).  The public comment period on the Initial Study began on February 4, 2010 and ends on Monday, March 8, 2010.   Written comments must be submitted to the Planning Department, attention Ara Mihranian, no later than the close of the business day (5:30 p.m.) on Monday, March 8, 2010. NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF A DRAFT EIR Pursuant to the State’s and the City’s CEQA guidelines, the City has determined that the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  The "Initial Study" and "Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft EIR" for the project have been completed and are now available for review. Click here to view the Notice of Preparation Click here to view the Initial Study The 30-day public comment period begins on Thursday, February 4, 2010 and concludes on Monday, March 8, 2010.  The Planning Commission will conduct a public scoping meeting on February 23, 2010 at Fred Hesse Park Community Room (29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275) to receive comments on the issues that should be addressed in the EIR.

PROJECT APPLICATIONS AND PLANS

On October 30, 2009, the applicant (Annenberg Foundation) formally submitted to the Planning Department the project applications and architectural plans.  The project application is Planning Case No. ZON2009-00442 for Conditional Use Permit No. 200 Revision “C”, Grading Permit, Coastal Permit, and Environmental Assessment (EIR preparation).   

Click links below to view the architectural plans (dated October 30, 2009)

• Architectural Plans
• Landscape Plans
• Grading Plans (Civil)
• Lighting Plans

Project Background

The Annenberg Foundation is underwriting and managing a project to implement the site improvements identified in the Rancho Palos Verdes Vision Plan for Lower Point Vicente. The Foundation has been working closely with a community advisory cabinet, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, staff and a specialized planning team to consider possibilities for the project and how to best serve the interests and needs of the community.

The Vision

The vision for the site is to create an area that connects the community to the ocean and the land, providing education, enhancing interpretative facilities and outdoor educational features, creating an educational center and connecting the site to the trails at the Vicente Bluffs Reserve and beyond.

The goals of the proposed project are to: 1) create a model learning destination and educational programs that preserve the beauty and uniqueness of Point Vicente and complement the mission and work of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, and 2) provide interior and exterior spaces that celebrate the bond between humans and nature, offer a model animal adoption program and open the center to the community for educational, civic and recreational use.

The proposal, based on a comprehensive study of the community done in concert with the development of the Coast Vision Plan, includes using architecture, art and exhibits to inform the public about Palos Verdes geology, history, marine ecology, terrestrial animals and habitats; creating a hands-on education center and outdoor exhibits that dovetail with the mission of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center; offering behavior modification and socialization programs, workshops and counseling related to domestic animals; providing programs, volunteer opportunities and educational curricula for students and teachers; providing additional passive recreational amenities on the site by preserving and extending open space; expanded picnic facilities and additional paths and trails; and habitat restoration and native planting.

Components of the Plan

The site improvements being considered include:

• A Center that would focus on providing education, services, and volunteer opportunities to learn about animals, science, behavior and care. Geared to all ages, the Center would provide a wide range of classes, counseling, animal adoption opportunities and support for families interested in better understanding the human-animal bond.
• An outdoor exhibit area that would include a reconstructed Tongva Village and an archaeological dig
• Expanded picnic areas and restroom facilities
• Grassland and habitat restoration, and improved watershed management
• Enhanced pedestrian pathways and trails

The improvements to Lower Point Vicente would preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the site by integrating into the natural surroundings and the topography of the site. Careful consideration is being given to the potential impact of the improvements on the surrounding environment, especially to neighboring homes.

Planning Process

On September 2, 2008, the City Council approved the Foundation entering into the planning process for the project. An interdisciplinary planning team has been working to enhance and refine the initial plans to meet the needs and interests expressed by the PVIC, community organizations, the project’s advisory cabinet, city staff and elected officials, the school district and other community stakeholders interested in the improvements on Lower Point Vicente. The Annenberg Foundation and the City Council will continue to work closely together to move the process forward.

About the Annenberg Foundation

The Annenberg Foundation has committed to an unprecedented level of grant support to qualified non-profits in the United States and abroad, totaling $1.2 billion over the past five years. It is a family foundation, founded by publisher, diplomat and philanthropist Walter H. Annenberg in 1989, and now led by Wallis Annenberg, his daughter, and three of Wallis’ adult children – Lauren Bon, Charles Annenberg Weingarten and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten.

The Foundation has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation and its Trustees are directly involved in the community with several projects that expand and complement its grant support to nonprofits. Among them are innovative initiatives designed to help nonprofits develop their potential; the Annenberg Space for Photography, which opened in March in Century City; Explore, the Metabolic Studio, and the Annenberg Community Beach House.

Wallis Annenberg believes in the power of education to bring people closer together. Her commitment to this project is simple: She believes that through education about the natural world – the land, the ocean and the creatures we love – we will build support for preservation of our resources and understanding of our four-footed friends. 

Learn More

The City’s project planner overseeing the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente is Principal Planner Ara Mihranian. He may be contacted at (310) 544-5228 or by email at aram@rpv.com.  To learn more about the Annenberg Foundation project, visit http://www.annenbergfoundation.org/tsprojects/tsprojects_show.htm?doc_id=976378 or send an email to Jackie Jaakola, General Manager, The Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente, jjaakola@annenbergfoundation.org or call Jackie at (310) 406-3710.

If you would like to be placed on an "interested parties" list to receive electronic updates, including any future public hearing notices, related to the Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente project via e-mail, you may subscribe by joining the list server group here.

Quick Links

Click here to view the Power Point Presentation from the Community Leader's Breakfast on October 17, 2009