Month: January 2017

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Mobility Plan 2035

CF 15-0719     CITY COUNCIL ACTION 01/24/2017  Vote Action: Adopted, Vote Given: (12 – 0 – 3)

Refer to Ordinance 187,718 (January 20, 2017)

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR), ADDENDUMS, PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT, and ORDINANCE FIRST CONSIDERATION relative to arterial street designations and arterial street segments to implement modifications to the General Plan’s Circulation Element.

Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:

FIND under the California Public Resources Code Section 21166 and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15162, on the basis of substantial evidence contained in the whole record, that since certification of the EIR (SCH No. 2013041012) on August 11, 2015, there have been no changes to the project, changes with respect to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken, or new information of substantial importance concerning the project, which cause new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects, and therefore no additional environmental review is required for the project.

ADOPT the FINDINGS of the Director of Planning, on behalf of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, as the Findings for Council.

PRESENT and ADOPT the accompanying ORDINANCE dated October 14, 2016, approved by the Director of Planning, amending Sections 11.12, 12.21, 12.37, 17.05 and 19.01 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code and repealing previous Ordinances establishing Street Designations for Arterial Street and Arterial Street Segments in order to implement modifications to the General Plan’s Transportation Element.

Case No. CPC-2013-910-GPA-SP-CA-MSC

CEQA No. ENV-2013-911-EIR; State Clearinghouse No. 2013041012

Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the City Attorney. Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

(Transportation Committee waived consideration of the above matter)

—  Refer to CF 15-0719  For Detail

  • 01/24/2017 Council Action (January 24, 2017), Communication from Mayor (January 20, 2017), Ordinance No. 184,718 (January 20, 2017), PLUM Report (November 22, 2016),
  • 01/20/2017 Mayor transmitted file to City Clerk. Ordinance effective date: January 4, 2017.
  • 01/18/2017 City Clerk transmitted file to Mayor. Last day for Mayor to act is January 30, 2017.
  • 01/17/2017 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.  PLUM Report (November 22, 2016), Report from City Attorney (October 26, 2016), Draft Ordinance (October 26, 2016)
  • 01/05/2017 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on January 17, 2017 .  Communication from  Committee Clerk (Publication) (January 6, 2017)
  • 12/09/2016 Transportation Committee waived consideration of item .
  • 11/23/2016 Planning and Land Use Management Committee transmitted Council File to Transportation Committee .   PLUM Report (November 22, 2016)
  • 11/22/2016 Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved item(s) .
  • 11/18/2016 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on November 22, 2016.
  • 10/27/2016 City Attorney document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 10/26/2016 Document(s) submitted by City Attorney, as follows:

City Attorney report R16-0334, dated October 26, 2016, relative to a revised draft ordinance amending Sections of the Municipal Code and repealing previous ordinances establishing street designations for arterial streets and arterial street segments in order to implement modifications to the General Plan’s transportation element.

  • 09/09/2016 Council Action.
  • 09/07/2016 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 08/25/2016 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 7, 2016 .
  • 08/24/2016 Transportation Committee approved item(s) .
  • 08/24/2016 Planning and Land Use Management Committee waived consideration of item .
  • 07/20/2016 Los Angeles City Planning Commission document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 07/15/2016 Document(s) submitted by Mayor, as follows:

Los Angeles City Planning Commission reports, both dated July 1, 2016, relative to a General Plan Amendment to adopt the amendments to the Mobility Plan 2035.

  • 05/17/2016 Council Action.
  • 05/15/2016 Community Impact Statement submitted by Westside Neighborhood Council.
    05/13/2016 Council adopted Substitute Motion, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 05/11/2016 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on May 13, 2016 .
  • 05/11/2016 Transportation Committee approved as amended .
  • 05/11/2016 Planning and Land Use Management Committee waived consideration of item .
  • 05/06/2016 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on May 11, 2016.
  • 03/04/2016 City Clerk transmitted Council File to Planning and Land Use Management Committee
  • 03/04/2016 Los Angeles City Planning Commission document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Transportation Committee.
    03/03/2016 Document(s) submitted by Mayor, as follows:

Los Angeles City Planning Commission report, dated February 26, 2016, relative to the Mobility Plan 2035 and the City’s 35 Community Plan Amendments related to equity, community input and clarification of existing policies.

  • 01/25/2016 City Attorney document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 01/22/2016 Document(s) submitted by City Attorney, as follows:

City Attorney report R16-0026, dated January 22, 2016, relative to the draft Ordinance amending several sections of the Municipal Code and repealing previous Ordinances establishing street designations for arterial streets and arterial street segments in order to implement modifications to the general plans transportation element.

  • 08/25/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council.
  • 08/18/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.
  • 08/17/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.
  • 08/12/2015 Council Action.
  • 08/11/2015 Council adopted Motion (Bonin – Huizar); For Motions 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, and part of 8G that were referred to the Planning and Land Use Management and Transportation Committees, see Council files 15-0719-S2, -S3, -S4, -S5, -S6, -S7, and -S8.
  • 08/05/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council.
  • 08/05/2015 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on August 11, 2015 .
  • 08/04/2015 Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Transportation Committee approved as amended .
  • 07/31/2015 Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 4, 2015.
  • 07/16/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by Northridge East Neighborhood Council.
  • 06/25/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.
  • 06/22/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council; Westwood Neighborhood Council.
  • 06/18/2015 Corrected Referral per Council President Office to include Transportation Committee.
  • 06/17/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by Los Feliz Neighborhood Council.
  • 06/15/2015 Community Impact Statement submitted by Westside Neighborhood Council.
  • 06/10/2015 City Planning document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.
  • 06/10/2015 Document(s) submitted by City Planning, as follows:

Communication from the Mayor, Department of City Planning report, and Final Environmental Impact Report, and accompanying amendments, and Resolutions relative to proposed General Plan Amendment to adopt the Mobility Plan 2035 as a comprehensive revision of the adopted 1999 City of Los Angeles Transportation Element pursuant to Charter Sections 551, 555, and 558 (City Plan Case No. CPC-2013-910-GPA-SP-CA-MSC).

Fiscal Impact Statement Submitted: No

Community Impact Statement: Yes

For:
Los Feliz Neighborhood Council
Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council

Neutral:
Northridge East Neighborhood Council

Against:
Westside Neighborhood Council
West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council
Westwood Neighborhood Council

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L.A. City Controller Report on Income-Restricted Affordable Housing

Read Full Report: January 23, 2017

Housing Affordability Map:  City of Los Angeles’ Housing and Community Investment Department. 2014

Los Angeles – City Controller Ron Galperin released an audit today entitled ‘Income-Restricted Affordable Housing Units in Los Angeles: A Review of the City’s Density Bonus Incentives and Overall Oversight’.The review found density bonus incentives have had minimal impact in incentivizing private developers to include affordable housing in their projects. The audit also highlights the lack of adequate  tools to ensure income-restricted units are best going only to those who qualify.

Accompanying the audit, the Controller has created a map of the City’s overall stock of 28,482 income-restricted units monitored by the Housing and Community Investment Dept. (HCID). Click here to view the map at www.lacontroller.org/geopanel_ la.

Density Bonus Law Has Not Lived Up to Its Potential

The audit found that 21 percent of new multi-family projects of five units or more, built between 2008 and 2014 (169 of 790 projects) utilized some aspect of the density bonus program — resulting in 4,463 units designated as affordable. However, just 329 of these units were created in market-rate projects throughout the City — an arguably minimal impact when considering the City’s overall affordable housing needs.

The audit recommends modifying and, in some cases, increasing incentives offered through the density bonus program. Specific recommendations include:

  • Create additional incentives, such as additional density or permitting micro units;

  • Streamline processes through modifications to the current process of site plan review and expedited processing of Environmental Impact Reports;

  • Conduct a legal analysis of what opportunities might exist, within the density bonus program, to allow market-rate developers to create income-restricted units off-site — or to pay equivalent values into a fund which would build income-restricted units throughout Los Angeles;

  • Review how Area Median Income (AMI) levels are defined for the purpose of the density bonus program so that it is more aligned with state policy.

“Affordable housing is one of the most pressing needs our City faces and the City has an obligation to develop and implement programs that create substantially more affordable units,” stated Galperin. “The City needs to evaluate and prioritize the density bonus program to reach the City’s stated goal of 100,000 new units by 2021 — of which at least 15,000 would, hopefully, be officially affordable.”

The City’s Monitoring Program

The Controller’s audit also examined oversight and monitoring of the City’s overall stock on 28,482 income-restricted units. This includes density bonus units, Section 8 units, Community Redevelopment Agency project units, and other income-restricted units. While auditors found reasonably adequate monitoring by the City’s contractor, and a 93 percent compliance rate, better oversight tools are needed to deal with conditions of some owners collecting more rent than allowed and some tenants exceeding income guidelines.

Based on a thorough analysis of information available for 2014, the audit found the following:

  • For 1,482 units (5.2%) — landlords charged higher rents to tenants than allowable under covenants to which landlords agreed. When such circumstances are identified, HCID’s contractor is charged with sending letters to owners demanding remediation.

  • For 464 units (1.6%) — tenant earnings exceeded program guidelines. In more than two-thirds of such instances, tenants reported incomes that exceeded limits by at least $5,000 per year and in one case, by $149,000.

  • For 1,056 units (3.7%)  — tenant incomes were not verified when tenants moved in.

  • For 1,181 tenants, no tenant income was reported at all.

“The City must ensure that affordable housing is occupied only by eligible, low-income people, and that people are not overcharged,” said Galperin. “Because we can’t build ourselves out of this crisis fast enough, it should be a priority to protect the affordability that does exist.”

Galperin’s audit yielded immediate action from City Council. Councilmember Mike Bonin, who represents the Westside and has been a champion for protecting and creating affordable housing in L.A., announced that he would introduce legislation on Tuesday to correct many of the issues raised by the Controller’s report.

“Los Angeles is in a housing crisis that is only worsening our ongoing homelessness crisis,” said Bonin. “Every single unit of affordable housing is imperative for our City, and the Controller’s work highlights areas where the Housing Community Development Department can improve how they oversee and monitor affordable housing stock in L.A.”

“I greatly appreciate Controller Galperin’s work on this important issue and I am taking immediate action to improve how our City operates so we can better ensure only those who are truly eligible for affordable housing occupy the too-few units of affordable housing in our City,” Bonin continued.

The audit released by the Controller’s Office evaluated a data sample between 2008 to 2014. It focused on units with a signed covenant agreement and monitored by HCID. Affordable housing units that may be under the authority of other agencies such as Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA), Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or others, were not included in this study.

The audit, along with the Controller’s other audits, reports, open data and more, is available atwww.lacontroller.org.

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Affordable Housing and Labor Standards Related to City Planning Initiative Ordinance JJJ

CF 16-0684-S1  At City Council 01/27/2017

Motion (O’Farrell – Huizar – Harris-Dawson) relative to requesting the City Attorney, with the assistance of the Department of City Planning, and in consultation with the Bureau of Contract Administration, to prepare a report on the implementation, enforcement, resources needed, timeline to implement, and any other impacts of the Affordable Housing and Labor Standards Related to City Planning Initiative Ordinance JJJ in Council file No. 16-0684.

  • 01/20/2017 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on January 24, 2017 . Motion  (November 22, 2016), PLUM Report (January 10, 2017)
  • 01/10/2017 Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved item(s) .
  • 01/06/2017 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on January 10, 2017.
  • 11/22/2016 Motion referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Motion  (November 22, 2016)

Interconnection: Also see CLARIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SUBJECT TO MEASURE JJJ  Posted on: December 13, 2016

 

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IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE DENSITY BONUS LAWS

Department of City Planning Memo (January 18, 2017)

On September 28,2016, Governor Brown signed AB 2501, AB 2556, AB 2442, and AB 1934 which amended the State Density Bonus Law (Government Code Section 65915). The amendments took effect on January 1, 2017. This memo will serve as interim guidance for staff and project applicants and does not create any new or additional City policies or regulations. Additionally, this memo recognizes changes as a result of amendments made to the State Density Bonus Law through AB 2280 (2008).

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Protected Tree Code Amendment

CASE: CPC – 2016 – 4520 – CA      ENV – 2016 – 4521 – CE

Public Notice and Q& A (January 6, 2017)

PROPOSED PROJECT : An Ordinance amending provisions of Chapter I Article 7 and Chapter IV Article 6 of the Los Angles Municipal Code (LAMC) to expand the definition of “Protected Tree” to include the Mexican Elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana) and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).

PUBLIC NOTICE: All This notice is to inform you of the public hearing for case number CPC – 20 1 6 – 4520 – CA , a proposed Zoning Code amendment to update the Protected Tree Ordinance that has been initiated by City Council Motion (Council File # 13 – 1339 ) . All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing , at which you may listen, speak, and submit written information relating to the proposed project.

PLACE: Los Angeles City Hall 200 N. Spring Street, Room 105 0 ( Public entrance is on Main Street) Los Angeles , CA 90012 DATE: Friday, January 20 , 2017 TIME: 10:00 a . m . – 12 :00 p . m .

PURPOSE: The purpose of the hearing is to obtain testimony from affected and/or interested persons regarding this project. The hearing will be conducted by a Hearing Officer who will consider oral testimony and any written communication received regarding this proposed Code amendment, as well as the merits of the draft ordinance as it relates t o existing land use regulations. After the hearing, a recommendation report will be prepared for consideration by the City Planning Commission at a later date . Please submit comments to: Shannon Ryan at Shannon.Ryan@lacity.org , (213) 978 – 3304. In order to be considered in the report to the City Planning Commission, comments should be received by January 31 , 2017 . Comments received after January 31 , 2017 should be addressed to the City Planning Commission at CPC@lacity.org for its consideration.

Prior Actions Related to the Motion

  • 01/28/2015 Council Action. (January 27, 2015)
  • 01/27/2015 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51. Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee Report (January 20, 2015)

Vote Action: Adopted,  Vote Given: (11 – 0 – 4)

  • 01/20/2015 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on January 27, 2015 .  Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee Report (January 20, 2015)   Motion (October 8, 2013)
  • 01/20/2015 Planning and Land Use Management Committee waived consideration of item .
  • 12/04/2013 Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee transmitted Council File to Planning and Land Use Management Committee .
  • 12/04/2013 Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee approved item(s) .
  • 11/27/2013 Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on December 4, 2013.
  • 10/08/2013 City Clerk transmitted Council File to Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee .
  • 10/08/2013 Motion referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee; Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee. Motion (October 8, 2013)

 

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Sections 12.24.E, 12.24W.43 and 12.24W.44 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code – Second Dwelling Units

CASE NO. ZA 2016- 4167-(ZAI) ZONING ADMINISTRATOR’S INTERPRETATION

City Planning Department Inter-Departmental Correspondence (December 30, 2016)  (Update to prior post)

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Interpretation of ZA 2016-4167-ZAI  (November 16, 2016)  

The purpose of this Zoning Administrator Interpretation (ZAI) is to interpret the City’s second dwelling unit (SDU) ordinances, LAMC  §§ 12.24W.43 and W.44, and LAMC §12.24E as incorporated into those sections, in a manner that complies with in Government Code § 65852.2 as written and existing as of the date of this ZAI.