NOTICE OF AVALIBILITY

OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

DATE: February 3, 2025

TO: Agencies, Organizations, and Interested Parties

PROJECT TITLE: La Sierra High School Track and Field Project

SUBJECT: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the La Sierra High School Track and Field Project (State Clearinghouse 2024110046)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Alvord Unified School District (District) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed La Sierra High School Track and Field Project (State Clearinghouse No. 2024110046) to address the potential environmental effects associated with implementation of the proposed project. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21165 and the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (CEQA Guidelines) Section 15050, the District is the lead agency for the proposed project. The purpose of this notice is to (1) serve as a Notice of Availability (NOA) of a DEIR pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15087 and (2) advise and solicit comments regarding the content of the DEIR.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15087, the DEIR will be available for a 45-day public review from Monday, February 3, 2025 through Thursday, March 20, 2025. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.4, responsible and trustee agencies must submit any comments in response to this notice no later than 45 days after receipt.

Copies of the DEIR are available for review at the following locations:

• Alvord Unified School District, 9 KPC Parkway, Corona, CA 92879
• La Sierra High School, 4145 La Sierra, Riverside, CA 92505
• Alvord Unified School District website:  https://www.alvordschools.org/8519_4

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Please send your comments pertaining to the content of the DEIR to Ryan Carter, Director III, Facilities, at the Alvord Unified School District via mail or e-mail as noted below. Please include the name, phone number, and email address of a contact person in all responses submitted. Please include “La Sierra HS Track and Field Project” in the subject line if e-mailing.

Contact Person:           Ryan Carter, Director III, Facilities

Mailing Address:          Alvord Unified School District

Facilities Department

10365 Keller Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505

Email:                          ryan.carter@alvordschools.org

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. 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 proposes to renovate the existing track and field in two phases. Phase one is planned to occur beginning June 2025 and ending in June 2026. Construction of Phase two is dependent on funding. The District is proposing to renovate the existing track and field; add field lighting, public address (PA) system, scoreboard, and 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;* and repave and restripe the 134,000-square-foot parking lot.* The proposed project would relocate the existing tennis courts (59,677 square feet) by approximately 10 feet (south)*. 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.* The proposed project would not impact student or staff capacity at La Sierra HS. (*These design elements, while included in this analysis, will be constructed as part of Phase 2 depending on funding availability, and will not be included in the scope of the current project.)

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:  The proposed project would result in a less than significant impact to air quality, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation. The proposed project would result in a less than significant impact with the incorporation of mitigation measures to cultural and paleontological resources, and tribal cultural resources. Based on the analysis in the DEIR and comment letters received in response to the NOP, the District determined that implementation of the proposed project would result in a significant and unavoidable impact to aesthetics and noise.