Zoning Administrator’s Interpretation for Mezzanines in Dwelling Units

Review  ZA 2019-2359(ZAI)

Contrary to the intent of these Story limitations to help define the character of neighborhoods, a small mezzanine open to the room it is in would be considered a Story without necessarily functioning that way. Using the Zoning Code’s definition of Story, a small, open, interior mezzanine in a room and the Story above it may both be construed as another Story, depending on where the measurement between “vertically adjacent finished floors” is taken. As such, ambiguity exists in the enforcement of Story limits, Yards, Space between Buildings, and Passageway requirements in buildings with a
mezzanine level.

A mezzanine level shall not be considered a Story for Zoning Code purposes, provided that the mezzanine meets the standards in this interpretation.

 

 

Council and Committee Referrals – May 28, 2019

 

19-0600-S67  Number of Environmental Impact Reports per employee that the City completes
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Budget Recommendation, dated May 28, 2019, relative to instructing the Department of City Planning to report to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee on the number of Environmental Impact Reports per employee that the City completes. The report should compare this ratio to that in other jurisdictions.

 

19-0600-S66  Number of Environmental Impact Reports that have been completed by the Major Projects Division
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Budget Recommendation, dated May 28, 2019, relative to instructing the Department of City Planning to report to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee on the number of Environmental Impact Reports that have been completed by the Major Projects Division in the past three years and the number that are currently pending. The report should discuss what that number represents in terms of the number of developments, broken down by housing units, hotel rooms, commercial space, and office space

 

19-0600-S72  Senate Bill 58, which would extend the operating hours of establishments that serve alcohol to 4:00 a.m
To Public Safety Committee
Budget Recommendation, dated May 28, 2019, relative to instructing the Police Department to report to the Public Safety Committee on the potential impact of Senate Bill 58, which would extend the operating hours of establishments that serve alcohol to 4:00 a.m. The report would only be necessary should Senate Bill 58 be signed into law.

 

19-0600-S141  Add one City Planner and two City Planning Associates in the Department of City Planning
To Budget and Finance Committee
Motion (Cedillo – Huizar) relative to amending the Budget and Finance Committee Report on the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for 2019-20 to add one City Planner and two City Planning Associates in the Department of City Planning to support the establishment of a Specific Plan Maintenance Unit for the Central/East Region.

 

19-0600-S134  Provide funding to support the Planning and Land Use Management Committee’
To Budget and Finance Committee
Motion (Wesson – Harris-Dawson) relative to amending the Budget and Finance Committee Report on the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for 2019-20 to provide funding to support the Planning and Land Use Management Committee’s increased and unique technical/legal workload demands.

 

19-0600-S65  Climate Action Plan (CAP) within the General Plan
To Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice Committee
Budget Recommendation, dated May 28, 2019, relative to instructing the Department of City Planning to report to the Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice Committee on the status of the state-sanctioned Climate Action Plan (CAP) within the General Plan, including future anticipated costs and potential funding sources that would become available to the City with a CAP.

 

19-0600-S38  Established waitlist for tenants applying for restricted units
To Housing Committee
Budget Recommendation, dated May 28, 2019, relative to instructing the Housing and Community Investment Department to report to the Housing Committee relative to the Density Bonus Program and the feasibility of requiring an established waitlist for tenants applying for restricted units. The report should also include the feasibility of implementing a database to monitor these units, the affordability of condominiums, etc.

Mapping the Future for Hotels in the San Fernando Valley

To learn more, email Elizabeth@vica.com

 

Mapping the Future for Hotels in the San Fernando Valley

This week, VICA and the Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA), hosted a roundtable discussion for hotel owners and operators. Attendees discussed their shared interests and the importance of working together to advocate on important policy issues, such as worker safety. The group also discussed VICA-opposed Measure EE, a property tax which would impose a 16 cent per-square-foot tax on properties, including hotels. Attendees noted the significant tax burden Measure EE would place on San Fernando Valley hotels. The roundtable concluded with a discussion about the philanthropic efforts of regional hotels and the opportunities for professional growth within the industry.

Map of Submitted Applications to LA City Planning for – 05/13/2019 – 05/24/2019 

Please be aware, starting July 1, 2019 access to City of Los Angeles Planning Application Map will only be available at no cost to viewers  with a Password.   See Protected Posts

Map above is graphic only.   Click here to see (MAP)


 Information that identifies:

  • Case No.
  • Site Address
  • Community Plan Area
  • Neighborhood Council
  • Council Office
  • Application Date
  • Request Type
  • Project Description
  • Application Contact

Charging overtime costs by the DCP’s Expedited Processing Section

CF 19-0482      AT PLUM 05/21/2019 

Motion (Wesson – Ryu) relative to instructing the Department of City Planning (DCP), with the assistance of the City Administrative Officer, and in consultation with the City Attorney, to prepare a report on the feasibility of charging project applicants for overtime costs by the DCP’s Expedited Processing Section to process Conditional Use Permit applications, inasmuch as for the first quarter of 2019, one hundred cases have been filed, and at the current rate, four hundred cases are expected to be filed this year.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.


Click on the BLUE Highlight to view official documents and reports.

  • 05/17/2019 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on May 21, 2019.  Motion (May 7, 2019)
  • 05/07/2019 Motion document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Motion (May 7, 2019)

 

Council and Committee Referral – May 17, 2019

 

19-0517  RSO protections, and the feasibility of enhancing protections to residents of mobile home parks
To Housing Committee
Motion (Rodriguez – Buscaino) relative to instructing the Housing and Community Investment Department to report with current State law and Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) safeguards for mobile home park tenants, recommendations to help strengthen RSO protections, and the feasibility of enhancing protections to residents of mobile home parks not currently subject to the RSO.

 

City Planning 2018 Annual Report

Read City Planning Annual Report (Annual Report 2018)

Message from the mayor, Eric Garcetti

Dear Friends,

Angelenos know that confronting our greatest economic and social challenges requires immediate action and a long-term plan, which is why all of us are standing united to end the most urgent moral and humanitarian crisis of our time: homelessness. Thanks to the hard work of our City Planning Department, this past year we saw new projects break ground and new policies emerge that are helping to ensure every Angeleno has a roof over their head and a pillow under it. From enacting the Permanent Supportive Housing and Motel Conversion Ordinances to being on track to meet our goal of permitting 100,000 housing units by 2021, we are using every available resource to connect all Angelenos with a place to call home. I am proud to share these accomplishments in the City Planning Department’s Annual Report. As we begin a new year bright with opportunity, I am confident that working together we will build an even stronger, more equitable Los Angeles — a City of opportunity for all.

Map of Submitted Applications to LA City Planning for – 04/29/2019 – 05/10/2019 

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  • Application Date
  • Request Type
  • Project Description
  • Application Contact

Map of Submitted Applications to LA City Planning for – 04/15/2019 – 04/26/2019

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  • Council Office
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  • Request Type
  • Project Description
  • Application Contact

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Map of Submitted Applications to LA City Planning for – 04/01/2019 – 04/12/2019

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  • Application Contact

AB 1694 (ODonnell) / Conservancy / Open Space and Wildlife Habitat Preservation

CF 19-0002-S73     AT CITY COUNCIL 05/14/2019

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST (CLA) and RESOLUTION (BUSCAINO – BONIN) relative to establishing the City’s position for Assembly Bill (AB) 1694 (O’Donnell) to preserve unique open spaces and wildlife habitats.

Recommendation for Council action, pursuant to Resolution (Buscaino – Bonin), SUBJECT TO THE CONCURRENCE OF THE MAYOR:

ADOPT the accompanying RESOLUTION to include in the City’s 2019-20 State Legislative Program, SUPPORT for AB 1694, which seeks to expand the territory of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy by including the Dominguez Channel watershed and the Santa Catalina Island in order to preserve their unique open space and wildlife habitat.

Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the CLA. The City Administrative Officer has not completed a financial analysis of this report.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

(Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee waived consideration of the above matter)


Click on the BLUE Highlight to view official documents and reports.

  • 05/10/2019 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on May 14, 2019 .  Report from Chief Legislative Analyst (May 10, 2019), Resolution (April 30, 2019)
  • 05/10/2019 Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee waived consideration of item .  Report from Chief Legislative Analyst (May 10, 2019), Resolution (April 30, 2019)
  • 05/10/2019 Chief Legislative Analyst document(s) referred to Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.   Report from Chief Legislative Analyst (May 10, 2019)
  • 05/10/2019 Document(s) submitted by Chief Legislative Analyst, as follows:  Report from Chief Legislative Analyst (May 10, 2019)

Chief Legislative Analyst report 19-05-0436, dated May 10, 2019, relative to Resolution (Buscaino – Bonin) to include in the City’s 2019-20 State Legislative Program its position for AB 1694 (O’Donnell), which seeks to expand the territory of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy by including the Dominguez Channel watershed and Santa Catalina Island in order to preserve their unique open space and wildlife habitat.  Report from Chief Legislative Analyst (May 10, 2019)

  • 04/30/2019 Resolution document(s) referred to Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.  Resolution (April 30, 2019)

SB 50 (Weiner) / Potential Impacts to the Citys Land Use Regulatory Process and Zoning / Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) / Community Plan Updates

CF 18-1226 

Department of City Planning report and supplemental report relative to an analysis of the proposed State Senate Bill 50, including the impacts to the City’s neighborhood development patterns and urban form as well as existing City policies, plans and procedures, and the potential relationship to state and local goals surrounding housing affordability, sustainability and equity.

Fiscal Impact Statement: No.

Community Impact Statement: None submitted.


Click on the BLUE Highlight to view official documents and reports.

  • 05/14/2019 Planning and Land Use Management Committee continued item to/for future meeting.
  • 05/10/2019 Department of City Planning document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.   Report from Department of City Planning (May 9, 2019)
  • 05/09/2019 Document(s) submitted by Department of City Planning, as follows:  Report from Department of City Planning (May 9, 2019)
    Department of City Planning report, dated May 9, 2019, relative to a summary of the amendments made to SB 50 (Weiner), as well as the impacts the changes are likely to have on the department’s initial report dated April 23, 2019.
  • 04/24/2019 Department of City Planning document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.   Report from Department of City Planning (April 23, 2019)
  • 04/23/2019 Document(s) submitted by Department of City Planning, as follows:
    Department of City Planning report, dated April 23, 2019, relative to analysis regarding proposed State Senate Bill 50 (Weiner) and its potential effects on zoning and land use regulations in the City.   Report from Department of City Planning (April 23, 2019)
  • 04/17/2019 Council action final.
  • 04/16/2019 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 04/15/2019 Community Impact Statement submitted by Sherman Oaks NC.  Refer to CF 18-1226)
  • 04/13/2019 Community Impact Statement submitted by Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Refer to CF 18-1226)
  • 04/11/2019 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on April 16, 2019 .   Report from Planning and Land Use Management Committee (March 5, 2019), Motion (December 12, 2018)
  • 04/11/2019 Community Impact Statement submitted by Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. Refer to CF 18-1226)
  • 03/05/2019 Community Impact Statement submitted by Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council.  Refer to CF 18-1226)
  • 03/05/2019 Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved item(s) .  Motion (December 12, 2018)
  • 03/01/2019 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on March 5, 2019.  Motion (December 12, 2018)
  • 12/12/2018 Motion document(s) referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.  Motion (December 12, 2018)

 

Request for Qualifications – URBAN DESIGN

See City Planning Announcement:   Request for Qualifications 

The Department of City Planning is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish a pre-qualified list of on-call consultants to assist with a range of urban design and planning related activities. The work will support the long range policy planning efforts of the Department’s Citywide and Community Planning divisions.

The RFQ will be released in the spring 2019 on the Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network (LABAVN): http://labavn.org. Notification of the release of the RFQ will be sent to companies registered on LABAVN.

Request for Qualifications – MARKETING & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS –

See City Planning Announcement:  Request for Qualifications

The Department of City Planning is issuing a Request  for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish a pre-qualified list of on-call consultants for marketing and strategic communications. These efforts will support the Department’s citywide outreach and engagement efforts — providing direct support to the Executive Office on matters pertaining to media relations, messaging, branding, and overall marketing.

The RFQ will be released in the spring 2019 on the Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network (LABAVN). Register here to receive the notification to submit your application. For additional information, please email: planning.contracts@lacity.org.

 

Request for Qualifications – PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

See  City Planning Announcement (Public Engagement)

The Department of City Planning is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish a pre-qualified list of on-call consultants for public engagement. These efforts will support the Department’s work to meaningfully engage diverse communities across Los Angeles- providing direct support on matters including: meeting facilitation, online engagement, production of materials and collateral, partnership building, logistical coordination, and general outreach.

The RFQ will be released in the spring 2019 on:

Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network (LABAVN): http://labavn.org. Notification of  the release of the RFQ will be sent to companies registered on LABAVN.

Council and Committee Referrals – May 10, 2019

 

19-0002-S73  San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy
To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Chief Legislative Analyst report 19-05-0436, dated May 10, 2019, relative to Resolution (Buscaino – Bonin) to include in the City’s 2019-20 State Legislative Program its position for AB 1694 (O’Donnell), which seeks to expand the territory of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy by including the Dominguez Channel watershed and Santa Catalina Island in order to preserve their unique open space and wildlife habitat.
18-1226  Summary of the amendments made to SB 50 (Weiner),
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated May 9, 2019, relative to a summary of the amendments made to SB 50 (Weiner), as well as the impacts the changes are likely to have on the analysis in the Department’s initial report dated April 23, 2019

 

14-1478-S1  Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency Program.
To Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice Committee
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of Building and Safety report, dated March 9, 2019, relative to proposed revisions to the Los Angeles Municipal Code regarding the Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency Program.

Council and Committee Referral – May 7, 2019

 

19-0482  Feasibility of charging project applicants for overtime cost by the Expedited Processing Section
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Motion (Wesson – Ryu) relative to instructing the Department of City Planning, with the assistance of relevant City departments, to prepare a report on the feasibility of charging project applicants for overtime cost by the Expedited Processing Section to process Conditional Use Permit applications.

 

TEMPORARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ELECTRIFICATION POLICY

AT CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 05/09/2019

TEMPORARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ELECTRIFICATION POLICY: Consider
establishment of a City Planning Commission Temporary Advisory Committee on Electrification
Policy to advance policies on electrification of transportation as a method to support the City’s
sustainability goals, and provide direction to staff as appropriate.

Staff: Arthi Varma, Deputy Director
arthi.varma@lacity.org
(213) 978-1191

Technical amendments to align with emergency shelter regulations in state law

CPC-2019-1881-CA    CEQA: ENV-2019-1882-SE

AT CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 05/09/2019

Last Day to Act: 07-15-19

Council District: ALL
Plan Area: Citywide
PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED
PROJECT SITE: CITYWIDE

PROPOSED PROJECT:
An ordinance amending Sections 12.80 and 12.81 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) to
make technical amendments to align with emergency shelter regulations in state law (Government
Code Section 8698 et. seq

REQUESTED ACTIONS:
1. Approve and recommend that the City Council determine, based on the whole of the
administrative record, that the proposed ordinance is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources
Code and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15269;
2. Approve the proposed ordinance and recommend its adoption by City Council;
3. Adopt the staff report as the Commission’s report on the subject; and
4. Adopt the Findings.

Applicant: City of Los Angeles
Staff: Cally Hardy, City Planning Associate
cally.hardy@lacity.org
(213) 978-1643

Amazon says fully automated shipping warehouses are at least a decade away

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The future of Amazon’s logistics network will undoubtedly involve artificial intelligence and robotics, but it’s an open question at what point AI-powered machines will be doing a majority of the work. According to Scott Anderson, the company’s director of robotics fulfillment, the point at which an Amazon warehouse is fully, end-to-end automated is at least 10 years away. Anderson’s comments, reported today by Reuters, highlight the current pace of automation, even in environments that are ripe for robotic labor, like an Amazon warehouse.

As it stands today, robots in the workforce are proficient mostly at specific, repeatable tasks for which they are precisely programmed. To get the robot to do something else takes expensive, time-consuming reprogramming. And robots that can perform multiple different tasks and operate in dynamic environments that require the robot see and understand its surroundings are still firmly in the realm of research and experimental trials. Even the simple process of identifying an object and picking it up without having been trained on that object before requires a series of complex, sophisticated software and hardware that does not yet exist in commercial fashion.

But as part of the ongoing deep learning revolution that’s accelerated the progress of AI research over the last decade, robots are starting to gain levels of vision and motor control that are approaching human-levels of sophistication. Amazon is one of the companies pioneering such robots, and it’s held an annual so-called picking challenge, after the warehouse term from picking up one object to move it to another part of the logistics chain, to promote advances in the field.

According to Reuters, Amazon has 110 warehouses in the US, 45 sorting centers, and roughly 50 delivery stations, all of which employ more than 125,000 full-time warehouse workers. But only a fraction of the overall labor is performed by robots. Right now, robots are simply too imprecise and clumsy and require too much training to be deployed on factory floors outside very narrow use cases.

For instance, Amazon uses small, Roomba-shaped robots simply called “drives” mostly to deliver large stacks of products to human workers, by following set paths around the warehouse. “In the current form, the technology is very limited. The technology is very far from the fully automated workstation that we would need,” Anderson told Reuters, which toured an Amazon warehouse in Baltimore earlier today.