Greetings Angelenos,
During my three years as Director, the Los Angeles City Planning Department has improved case processing through a series of structural enhancements. Most recently, the Department formed a strike force team to work through the high volume of cases assigned to the Office of Zoning Administration — a subsection of the Department comprised of quasi-judicial decision makers, each of whom is responsible for issuing letters of determination for certain land use entitlements.
Nearly 40 of our planners have volunteered to work overtime to support this effort, and specifically to review more than 400 project applications — 122 of which have already been processed. Independent of these measures, we are also hiring new staff, thanks to the Mayor and City Council’s allocation of additional funds to support case intake and review.
As a Department, we are committed to the highest standards. The undeniable integrity and professional conduct of our employees, along with their commitment to workforce efficiency, demonstrate the best this City has to offer.
Together, we are
Planning for LA.
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Vince Bertoni,
Director of Planning
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California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Transportation Analysis Update
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On July 30, the City Council adopted updated thresholds for analyzing project-related transportation impacts, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). These updated thresholds represent a shift in the metric by which transportation impacts are measured, replacing Level of Service (LOS) with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). The adoption of the VMT metric more closely aligns transportation impacts generated by new development projects with the appropriate set of mitigation measures. VMT analyzes the average number of driven miles generated by a project, providing a better account than LOS of the net effects a project may have on the environment.
Los Angeles is the fifth city in California to implement these updated thresholds ahead of the July 1, 2020, deadline, as mandated under State law. All pending projects are encouraged to employ the VMT metric during their environmental analysis. The usage of VMT will be a requirement for all projects that are not approved by the State's deadline. For additional information, contact
ladot.vmt@lacity.org.
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Citywide Sign Ordinance:
Off-Site Signage and
Sign-District Restrictions
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On August 13, the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee of the City Council considered the latest report from the Los Angeles City Planning Department, which responded to 13 questions posed by the PLUM Committee during its last consideration of the Citywide Sign Ordinance on May 28. The report outlined options for relocating existing off-site signs, prioritizing sign reduction in billboard blighted areas, heightening penalties for off-site sign violations, and establishing a phase-in process for signs located in the public realm before the City expands the eligibility area to include private property, among other items.
The PLUM Committee asked the Department to present a revised draft ordinance to the City Planning Commission prior to returning to the PLUM Committee for further consideration. The draft ordinance will reference additional procedures for establishing off-site sign districts, specify new location requirements for digital signs, and address the overconcentration of billboards.
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Quarterly Housing Progress Report: April to June 2019
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This August, the Los Angeles City Planning Department released its latest Housing Progress Report, highlighting the most recent housing development activity in the City of Los Angeles. Covering the period of April to June 2019, the report noted a significant increase in housing entitlements. Last quarter saw 7,445 units proposed, a 27% increase from the previous reporting period. Thirty-five percent of the total (2,586 new units) was reserved for affordable housing.
The TOC Incentive Program continues to account for nearly half of all units proposed requiring a planning entitlement. Nearly half of all TOC projects filed with the Department have been located within the central portion of the City in places like Westlake and Hollywood, with South Los Angeles emerging as a focus for investment in places such as the West Adams neighborhood. To access the report, click the link below.
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Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Incentive Program: Eligibility Map Refresh
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Next month, the Los Angeles City Planning Department will be releasing a technical update to the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) tier reference map, an informational map intended to help applicants determine whether a project qualifies for the TOC Incentive Program. The revised map will reflect recent changes to the transit system, including updates to the frequency of major transit headways and the addition and removal of certain transit lines.
As part of this update, the TOC tier reference map will also incorporate certain methodological changes made earlier this year by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). These combined changes will impact certain projects in the pre-application process. For more information, contact the Housing Services Unit: (213) 202-5456 |
dcpphp@lacity.org.
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Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment: Court of Appeal Ruling
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On July 3, 2019, the Third District Court of Appeal upheld the City of Sacramento’s use of the Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment (SCEA) — a streamlined environmental review process for “Transit Priority Projects” that are found to be consistent with long-range regional transportation plans focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This is the first Court of Appeal decision to address the use of a SCEA since the adoption of Senate Bill 375, which encouraged the development of high-density, infill housing near transit in 2008. In the City of Los Angeles, six projects have since applied for SCEA as part of their environmental clearances. If approved, these projects could result in the construction of over 2,200 new housing units, including nearly 600 units of affordable housing.
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Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance: Revised Hillside Regulations
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On August 20, the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee of the City Council amended the City’s draft Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance to prohibit the construction of new ADUs in the City’s hillside areas located within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones — except in instances where an ADU contains an automatic sprinkler system, provides one additional off-street parking space, is located on a lot that fronts a 20-foot-wide improved roadway, or is created through the conversion of existing habitable space.
These hillside requirements would apply citywide, except to the Northeast Los Angeles and Silver Lake – Echo Park – Elysian Valley Community Plan areas. Traditionally, ADUs have been identified by the State as an important housing option for potential renters and homeowners.
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OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT - JULY 2019
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Councilmember Paul Krekorian Hosts a Community Walk:
Los Angeles City Planning Department Joins Residents of Valley Village
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On August 15, the Los Angeles City Planning Department joined Councilmember Paul Krekorian on a community walk across the Valley Village neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. Organized by the local neighborhood council, the community walk provided the Department with an opportunity to engage with local residents on a variety of land use issues.
The Councilmember and Department staff also used the occasion to obtain input from residents on the update to the North Hollywood – Valley Village Community Plan, which establishes neighborhood-specific goals and strategies to bolster housing and job opportunities, conserve open space and natural resources, and balance the unique needs of local residents.
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Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing Panel: Transit Oriented Development and Affordable Housing
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On August 20, City Planner Ulises Gonzalez participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing and Public Counsel to discuss the City’s Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Incentive Program. Planning staff members were invited to share insights on the program and how it has generated thousands of new units of affordable housing.
In November 2016, voters from the City of Los Angeles approved Measure JJJ — a local ballot initiative that instituted new labor and affordable housing requirements for certain residential projects. Measure JJJ also instructed the Los Angeles City Planning Department to create the TOC Incentive Program, encouraging the development of affordable housing near transit.
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Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Environmental Design Interviews Los Angeles Director of Planning Vince Bertoni
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On July 19, Director of Planning Vince Bertoni participated in an interview with the Dean of Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The discussion centered on the planning profession, trends in the industry, and what universities can provide students to prepare them for their future careers in planning.
A key component of his remarks focused on the importance of communications — especially storytelling through the use of story maps and other visual aids to make planning concepts more relatable. During his time with the City of Los Angeles, Director Bertoni has worked alongside his Executive Team to demystify the planning process by devoting more resources to support community outreach, communications, and the overall transparency of the Department.
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World Heritage Designation: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Los Angeles
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In July, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House was designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) — the first World Heritage listing for any site within the City of Los Angeles. The Hollyhock House, located in Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood, was built between 1919 and 1921 in the Mayan Revival architectural style for former oil heiress Aline Barnsdall.
In recent years, the Los Angeles City Planning Department worked closely with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, which spearheaded the City's application for UNESCO World Heritage status. Alongside Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, the Department assisted with the application process and site inspections that ultimately led to this international recognition.
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2019 LA Conservancy Preservation Award Recipient:
Asian Americans in Los Angeles Historic Context Statements
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On July 25, the Los Angeles City Planning Department’s Office of Historic Resources received a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award for its Asian Americans in Los Angeles Historic Context Statements, which highlight important architectural, social, cultural, and ethnic considerations unique to Los Angeles — including historic sites of importance to the City’s Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, and Thai American communities.
Supported by a National Park Service Underrepresented Communities Grant, the Historic Context Statements establish a framework for the future identification and designation of other places of significance to Los Angeles’s Asian American communities.
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National Night Out: Valley Community Planning Staff Attends Local Neighborhood Events
On August 6, the Community Plans teams in the Southeast and Southwest Valley attended three events in Studio City, Valley Village, and Reseda for National Night Out — an annual event that brings together law enforcement and neighborhoods for a night of fun. The event also provides City agencies with an opportunity to interact with local residents.
Updates to the Southeast and Southwest Valley Community Plans are currently in progress. As part of the Community Plan update process, the Department is asking neighborhoods across the southern half of the San Fernando Valley to share their visions for how their neighborhoods can better accommodate a mix of jobs and housing through the introduction of new land use and zoning regulations.
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- Preparing Draft Environmental Impact Report.
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- Scoping Meeting conducted in August.
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- Reviewing comments for the Draft Environmental Impact Report.
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- Preparing Draft Environmental Impact Report.
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Why is GIS Technology Important to Urban Planning?
By: Timmy Luong, GIS Supervisor
Los Angeles City Planning Department
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The McGroarty Home and Grounds in Tujunga was the home of John Steven McGroarty, the third poet laureate of the State of California. In addition to being a poet, McGroarty was a historian, dramatist,
Los Angeles Times journalist, and United States congressman. In 1970, the City declared the house a local Historic Cultural Monument due to its connection with a historic personage. The property is currently maintained by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs as the McGroarty Arts Center.
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT:
On August 8, the City Planning Commission (CPC) approved four affordable and permanent supportive housing development projects that combined would result in the construction of 475 residential units across the City of Los Angeles — from South Los Angeles to Sherman Oaks.
Collectively, these projects will provide 181 affordable units, offering new affordable housing opportunities for homeless individuals and households with incomes at Moderate, Low, Very Low, and Extremely Low Income levels. (Click
here
to read more about the projects on the CPC agenda.) Additionally, the Housing Element indicates that permanent supportive housing and services must be provided to ensure the homeless population and persons who are at risk of being homeless remain housed and get the individualized help they may need.
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LOS ANGELES CITY PLANNING
@PLANNING4LA
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