Month: July 2008

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Hillside Area Protection

Motion – Hillside areas of the city are protected through the provisions of the zoning code, which prescribes the land use regulatory controls that govern land use policy in the city (Los Angeles Municipal Code, Chapter 1). In 1992, the Council adopted the Hillside Ordinance, establishing regulations for building setbacks, fire protection, lot coverage, parking, street access, sewer connections and grading for new construction in the fragile hillsides of the city. The Hillside ordinance provisions acknowledge the unique problems presented by Hillside development and provide for appropriate regulations to ensure that such development is safe and accessible. More specifically, the Hillside ordinance requires street access improvements for any new construction of a one-family dwelling on a lot fronting on a Substandard Hillside Limited Street, as delineated in LAMC Section 12.21 A 17 (e), Street Access, (Amended by Ordinance No. 174652, Eff. 7/27/02), as denoted below: “For any new construction of, or addition to, a one-family dwelling on a lot fronting on a Substandard Hillside Limited Street, no building permit or grading permit shall be issued unless at least one-half of the width of the street(s) has been dedicated for the full width of the frontage of the lot to Standard Hillside Limited Street dimensions or to a lesser width as determined by the City Engineer…” Community members need to be fully informed as to the current relief mechanisms that are available as it relates to the “fully improved street” provisions of the LAMC, and in the interest of good public policy the Planning Department should conduct public hearings in connection with any relief applications. THEREFORE MOVE that the Council instruct the Planning Department to prepare a report within 30 days before the consideration of the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, relative to the current relief options from the “fully improved street” provisions of the LAMC, as it relates to the construction of single family dwellings on a lot fronting on a substandard Hillside limited street; and FURTHER MOVE that the Planning Department conduct public hearings in connection with applications for relief from the “fully improved street” provisions of the LAMC. REFER TO OLD COUNCIL FILE 01-0187