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5.7 Biological Resources

Nighttime Light and Glare
Development of the Project would substantially increase the number of nighttime light and
glare sources on the site. Currently, these levels are low to non-existent; however, open
spaces at higher elevations near the Project site’s southern boundaries serve as a natural
barrier to effects from increased lighting in landscaped areas south of the Project boundaries
by reducing the amount of light that reaches open space areas. Impacts could result from
light entering other open space portions of the Project site or adjacent open space off the
site. Nighttime illumination is known to impact many species of animals in natural areas by
disturbing movement, resting, and foraging behavior. It can potentially alter breeding cycles
and nesting behavior; hence, where such light is near remaining open space areas, it could
adversely impact the behavior of wildlife species that occur in these areas by disrupting
wildlife movement or breeding and foraging on the Project site and adjacent open space
areas.

Implementation of MM 13-2 and 13-6 from Section 5.13, Visual Resources, which requires
the Project Applicant to develop a Lighting Plan to reduce potential impacts to biological
resources caused by light and glare, would reduce the level of the impact. The Lighting Plan,
also referred to as the Dark Sky Plan, shall be consistent with County lighting standards and
shall provide guidelines for outdoor lighting that will be used throughout the Project site.
Final lighting orientation and design shall be approved by the County of Los Angeles
Department of Building and Safety. This measure will reduce the impact of light and glare to
a level considered less than significant.

Non-Native Plant Species

After Project completion, certain non-native plant species that are more adapted to urban
environments are likely to increase in population and may locally displace native species
because of their ability to more effectively compete for resources. Certain non-native plant
species are adapted to a wide variety of growing conditions and may out-compete native
plant populations for available nutrients, prime growing locations, and other resources.
Because some non-native plants reproduce so quickly, they can replace many native plant
populations. This eventually results in lower species diversity; loss of areas suitable for
breeding and/or nesting by common and special status wildlife species; changes to the
riparian ecosystem; and overall reductions in habitat values. Such impacts may result in
reduced viability of wildlife movement corridors in adjacent open space areas. In order to
reduce these impacts, PDF 7-8 and MM 7-15 shall be implemented. These measures include
the development of a Landscaping Plan (subject to County review) and will identify both a
plant palette composed of non-invasive species and a list of invasive plant species prohibited
from being planted on the Project site. In addition, the measures require pressurized rinsing
of vehicles entering open space preservation areas. These efforts are expected to minimize
invasive species impacts of the Project and reduce the level of the impact to less than
significant.

R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\5.7 Bio_051117.docx 5.7-167 Centennial Project
Draft EIR