Dear Angelenos,

Los Angeles is known for its year-round great weather, but when the temperatures rise, the heat can be unbearable. Excessive heat warnings are becoming more common. We are indeed experiencing the impacts of climate change in Los Angeles, where we are noticing longer, hotter heat waves. At City Planning, we are working to address climate change as well as the overarching issue of environmental justice to ensure better protection from environmental and health hazards.

Over the past few years, we have been thoughtful in implementing policies and programs that center on climate and environmental justice solutions on the community and citywide levels equitably. Some of those policies include The Plan for a Healthy LA which set the stage for the entire city to look at data to evaluate health outcomes and their priorities, the Hillside Construction Regulations, which limit out-of-scale development patterns that negatively impact the surrounding environment, and the Oil and Gas Drilling Ordinance, which ends new oil extraction and phases out oil drilling altogether.

Now through City Planning’s Environmental Justice Section, we are advancing land use policies and strategies that protect Angelenos from environmental and health hazards, including impacts felt from climate change. At the core of this work is community engagement that seeks to give people fair and equal access to the planning and decision-making process. In fact, during the Climate Equity Unit’s latest efforts through the Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the team partnered with local community based organizations and tribal nations and took part in over 30 meetings and met with more than 1,000 Angelenos in a three month span to help plan for a more sustainable and equitable City. It was through this meaningful engagement that we have been able to draft community-driven mitigation strategies and resources to make our most vulnerable communities more resilient.

Together, we are #Planning4LA.

Sincerely,

Vince Bertoni,

Director of Planning

DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

Climate Vulnerability Assessment Shapes Future Mitigation Measures

This July, City Planning’s Gabriela Juarez and Myranda Arreola staffed our Department’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) meetings in partnership with Community Partners Pacoima Beautiful, Promesa Boyle Heights, Rising Communities, Strength Based Community Change (SBCC) and Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) LA. They also met with strategic partners that included the Gabrielino-Shoshone nation, Anawakalmekak Charter School and North East Trees. Stakeholders came together to share their personal experiences with climate hazards and collaboratively scrutinize the accuracy of hazard maps specific to their community. This session served as a critical forum to discuss resiliency approaches against climate hazards, such as extreme heat, extreme precipitation, flooding and wildfires. It empowered participants to directly shape the City of LA’s future climate mitigation strategies and priorities.

The next phase, which began this month consists of reviewing the draft mitigation strategies and resources previously shared in order to prepare the draft CVA. For more information visit our Climate Equity webpage here.

CPC to Consider Housing Element Rezoning Program Draft Ordinances 9/26

In June 2024, Los Angeles City Planning released the revised Housing Element Rezoning Program draft ordinances including the Citywide Housing Incentive Program Ordinance, the Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance, and the Resident Protections Ordinance. Following the release of these drafts, City Planning hosted a public hearing on July 25.

As a next step, the proposed draft ordinances will be considered by the City Planning Commission (CPC) on Thursday, September 26, 2024. The meeting will begin after 8:30 a.m and members of the public may attend in person in the John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 200 N. Spring St. (entrance on Main St), Los Angeles 90012, join virtually via Zoom, or listen via telephone. Additional information on how to participate in the meeting virtually or via phone will be available on the meeting agenda which will be released approximately 72 hours before the meeting. To view the meeting agenda and to search the date of the meeting, please visit this link.

To view more information on the proposed Citywide Housing Incentive Program, Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance, and Resident Protections Ordinance, please visit our webpage, where you will find resources such as Fact Sheets for each draft ordinance.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Southwest Valley Community Plan Update Hosts Table at Open Styles Dance Battle Festival

Since the Southwest Valley Community Plan Updates team released draft zoning maps, updated land use maps, and Land Use Policy Plan texts in spring, the team has been engaging in public outreach throughout the three plan areas including: Canoga Park – Winnetka – Woodland Hills – West Hills, Encino – Tarzana, and Reseda – West Van Nuys - Lake Balboa. On Saturday, August 17, the Southwest Valley team tabled at the 14th annual “A Family Affair Festival” at Lanark Park in Canoga Park. As the culmination of a three-day festival, the event featured live performances, including open styles dance battles, a car show, food vendors, and family activities. The Southwest Valley team spoke with numerous stakeholders, including many kids who stopped by for the exciting swag, namely the sunglasses and colored pencils. The event was a meaningful opportunity to connect with Spanish-speaking residents. Planning staff provided information on the draft Plan’s objectives and main components, and its approach to incentivizing affordable housing and density along corridors and key intersections.

Southeast Valley Community Plans Update Public Outreach and Summer Night Lights

Over the last several months, the Southeast Valley Community Plans Update (SEVCPU) team has continued to find opportunities to engage with the community and share updates on the Draft General Plan Land Use Designations. Most recently, the SEVCPU and Orange Line Transit Neighborhood Plan (OLTNP) teams attended Summer Night Lights at Delano Recreation Center (August 1st) and Valley Plaza Recreation Center (August 8th). These events are a collaborative effort between the Mayor's Office, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Comprehensive Strategy team.

Both events drew huge crowds from the surrounding communities and were a great opportunity for the teams to engage with a diverse group of stakeholders. Each event was buzzing with live music, fun activities, and plenty of sports for the whole family. The teams interacted with hundreds of community members during each event, especially kids who wanted to “spin the wheel” and answer Valley trivia questions for exciting swag prizes!

This comes in the middle of a busy summer of outreach for the SEVCPU team that has included several neighborhood council and residents association presentations over the last few months. The team plans to conclude its outreach phase this fall with a handful of neighborhood council committees, upcoming Office Hours in September, and other community events, such as the Sherman Oaks Street Fair in October and CicLAvia (The Valley) in December.

Moving forward, the team will summarize the community feedback received during this time, refine its Draft General Plan Land Use Maps, and begin drafting Zoning as well as release three Policy Document drafts for each of the Community Plans within the Southeast Valley geography.

Westside Community Plans Public Outreach

The Westside Community Plans team has been conducting community outreach for the last several months across the four Westside Community Plan Areas, including Palms - Mar Vista - Del Rey, Venice, West Los Angeles, and Westchester - Playa Del Rey.

The team hosted approximately 50 Virtual Office Hours earlier this year and is presenting at the Neighborhood Councils across the Westside Community Plans area.

The presentation to the Neighborhood Councils includes a brief overview of the Community Plans, a summary of how the latest draft maps incorporated stakeholder feedback, and timeline updates.

It’s been a busy summer for presentations and engagement has been steady. In July, the team presented to the Westside Neighborhood Council (WNC), which was attended by approximately 50 participants. Approximately 15 participants attended the Del Rey Neighborhood Council (DRNC) presentation.

Earlier this month, the team presented to the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) attended by approximately 60 participants and the West Los Angeles Sawtelle Neighborhood Council attended by approximately 43 participants.

The team plans to wrap up the four remaining Neighborhood Council presentations through the months of September and October and will continue building on these past and current efforts throughout the community plan update process.

Looking ahead, the team will move into the Refinement Stage of the plan update timeline, which includes working to prepare revised drafts of the Policy Document, General Plan Land Use Maps, and Zoning, incorporating feedback received throughout this summer’s outreach. There will be continued outreach and engagement throughout the entire plan update process.

OFFICE OF RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND TRANSFORMATIVE PLANNING

Since its establishment in June 2020, the Office of Racial Justice, Equity, and Transformative Planning (ORJETP) has abided by three foundational pillars: applying a critical race and equity lens to planning processes, confronting the Department's historical role in perpetuating racial inequities, and fostering a more equitable and just approach within our workforce and communities we serve. For the past four years, the ORJETP has focused on changing workplace culture to support staff of all backgrounds and unifying the Department around a shared equity mission to address historical harms. The ORJETP is working on summarizing its efforts to date in Chapter 1 of its Strategic Action Plan, which will serve both to guide internal workplace policies and improve cultural competency to serve Los Angeles’s diverse communities more equitably.

This effort will summarize the history and mission of the ORJETP, and compile its most significant work programs, including:

Closely collaborating with the City Planning Commission to organize the City’s first Equity Day, and working with the CPC equity subcommittee to develop an equity values statement that is now in use at CPC hearings
Hosting internal listening sessions on workplace equity, workplace safety, and safety at public meetings
Developing an inclusive terminology guide that identifies outdated planning terms that are offensive to groups that have been historically marginalized or oppressed
Developing policies and procedures to encourage public participation at public hearings while discouraging hate speech.

Chapter 1 is the first step in a comprehensive effort to address inequities within the workplace before pivoting to focus on land use policy and zoning reform. This foundational work is setting the stage for transformative change within the Department. For more information or collaboration, please contact our office at planning.rjeap@lacity.org.

AUGUST METRICS

Hearing and Events

Development Trends

Applications filed increased by 4.7% and applications completed increased by 8.7% between June and July 2024. Proposals for market rate and affordable housing units increased by 112% and 49.8%, respectively, while the number of affordable units approved by LA City Planning decreased 25.7% month-over-month.

COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATES

Boyle Heights

On May 30, 2024, the Mayor approved the City Planning Commission’s action and transmitted the Boyle Heights Community Plan for the Planning and Land Use management (PLUM) Committee and City Council’s consideration of the amendments to the Community Plan, Framework Element, Community Plan Text, General Plan Map Land Use Change and Matrices. The Plan is anticipated to be heard again by the PLUM Committee and City Council in the summer or early fall of 2024.
The City Planning Commission disapproved modifications to the City Council adopted amendments to the Community Plan at its meeting on January 11, 2024.
The PLUM Committee recommended approval of the Community Plan with amendments on December 5, 2023, following which the City Council also recommended its approval on December 12, 2023. The City Council’s actions on the Boyle Heights Community Plan Update are summarized here.
Following the Mayor’s approval, the Plan has been transmitted to the PLUM Committee for adoption (Council File 23-0861).
On November 7, 2023 Los Angeles City Planning held an Open House event in partnership with Council Member Kevin de León - Council District 14, and the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, as part of the Boyle Heights Community Plan Update.
Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) was published on August 10, 2023.
Proposed Plan was unanimously approved by City Planning Commission on April 20, 2023.
Held a public hearing on the Draft Community Plan text, zoning regulations, Draft Land Use Map, and Draft Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO) on October 27, 2022.
Published Draft EIR on July 28, 2022, and the EIR comment period ended on October 11, 2022.

Downtown

The City Attorney is reviewing the Downtown Community Plan Implementing Ordinances and the New Zoning Code. After City Attorney Review, documents will be transmitted to theCity Council for final approval and an effective date will be established.
Per direction from City Council, transmitted reports on topics such as Adaptive Reuse, and Public Open Space in September 2023, to inform further refinements to the Community Plan.
The Planning and Land Use management (PLUM) committee recommended approval of the Community Plan with amendments on April 24th, 2023, following which the City Council also recommended its approval on May 3rd, 2023.
Transmitted Director of Planning's Memo to PLUM in September 2022, and a Director of Planning's Supplemental Memo to PLUM in March, 2023 describing a few amendments to the CPC Recommended draft.
Transmitted Letter of Determination, Final EIR (FEIR), and CPC's recommended Community Plan to the Mayor and City Council for adoption on September 27, 2022.
City Planning Commission recommended the plan and new zoning for approval in September 2021.
Released revised materials in advance of City Planning Commission hearing, including Zoning, Plan Text, Land Use Map, and Community Benefits Program, in June 2021.

Harbor

Preparing for the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee.
Preparing Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).
The Proposed Harbor Community Plans were considered and recommended for approval by the City Planning Commission on February 8, 2024.
Hosted a virtual information session and public hearing - November 2023.
Released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for public review and comment – September 2023.
Hosted Virtual and In-Person Office Hours – September 2023.
Released the proposed Harbor LA zones and new zoning tutorial video series in September 2023.
Released Harbor LA StoryMap with new zoning information in December 2021.

Hollywood

On May 3, 2023, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted the Hollywood Community Plan Update. The City Council also recommended an amendment requested in the motion from Council District 13 (Soto-Martinez) and a follow up report requested in the motion from Council District 4 (Raman). Additional information about the requested amendments is summarized here.
The implementing ordinances will now be reviewed and finalized by the City Attorney, to ensure clarity of regulations and consistency with state law, which can take approximately six months to a year. After this process is complete, the Plan will be brought into effect by the City Council.

Southeast Valley

Released StoryMap for the Draft General Plan Land Use (GPLU) Designations for three Community Plans: North Hollywood - Valley Village, Sherman Oaks - Studio City - Toluca Lake - Cahuenga Pass, and Van Nuys - North Sherman Oaks.
Scheduling outreach meetings with various stakeholder groups and neighborhood councils across all three community plans, Spring-Summer 2024.
Drafting Policy Documents, June - September 2024.

Southwest Valley

Released an interactive draft Zoning Map, draft Plan Policy text, and updated draft General Plan Land Use Designations map, accompanied by public engagement.
Extended virtual office hour appointments are available, where stakeholders can sign up to meet one-on-one with planning staff.

Westside

City Planning is conducting Neighborhood Council outreach throughout the summer across the four Community Plan Areas.
In July, City Planning held a Virtual Information Session for the Westchester - Playa del Rey Community Plan, with a focus on the Ladera Center and surrounding properties, and the team is planning an upcoming in-person community meeting on September 19.
Staff hosted approximately 50 Virtual Office Hours in May to hear feedback on the 2024 Draft General Plan Land Use Maps for each of the four Community Plan Areas.
In March, the team published updated Draft Land Use maps along with an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap and additional supporting materials, available on the program website.
WCPAG draft materials, recordings and presentations made publicly accessible on the Westside Community Plans info page.

#OurLA

Dalmatian-American Club of San Pedro

In the 1920s San Pedro’s commercial fishing industry had become one of the largest in the United States. With the booming industry came job opportunities, and many immigrant groups chose to settle in San Pedro as a result. This included Italian, Yugoslavian, Serb-Croatian, Scandinavian, Greek, and Japanese communities. Several of these groups formed social clubs or meeting halls as a way to cultivate community in their new city. Today only a few remain. One example is the Dalmatian-American Club of San Pedro (formerly the Yugoslav Club) that was founded in 1926 and is still in operation in its original location, almost 100 years later! A true San Pedro institution, holding regular community events, weddings, and their famous fish lunches, the Club continues its mission of preserving the ethnic and cultural heritage of its members and serving as a resource to the broader community. To learn more about historic places in San Pedro, read the Historic Resources Survey Report here or visit HistoricPlacesLA.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

12747 Mitchell Avenue

Last Month, the City Planning Commission approved a new six-story, 19,112-square-foot residential building containing 19 units in the Palms – Mar Vista—Del Rey Community plan area of Council District 11. The project will comprise 19 units, of which four units will be set aside for Very Low-Income households and will be made of six two-bedroom units and 13 one-bedroom units. The project will also provide approximately 2,447 square-feet of open space, including 1,997 square feet of common open space within the roof deck and at least 450 square-feet of open space within private balconies. Development of the project would require the removal of one non-protected tree, which would be replaced with four new trees planted on-site.

Staff Report