Month: April 2022

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Council and Committee Referrals – Thursday, April 28, 2022

21-0972 Affordable Housing Overlay Zone
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated April 27, 2022, relative to an Affordable Housing Overlay Zone.

 

21-0658 Streamline 100 percent of deed-restricted affordable housing projects
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated April 27, 2022, relative to a strategic plan to streamline 100 percent of deed-restricted affordable housing projects and to improve processes and procedures for the development process.

 

15-0103-S5 City’s General Plan Health Element
To Budget and Finance Committee
To Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated April 27, 2022, relative to the implementation status of the City’s General Plan Health Element to promote environmental justice and address the disproportionate impact of environmental burdens on disadvantaged communities.
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Transportation Demand Management Update

Source:   Department of City Plannig
City Planning, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation (LADOT), continues to make progress on updating the Transportation Demand Management ordinance, a citywide ordinance that will require certain new development projects and substantial building additions to implement strategies that reduce vehicle trips such as telecommuting, carshare, and providing transit passes.
Planning staff held three informational webinars and released initial drafts of the TDM Ordinance and TDM Program Guidelines for public review in June 2021. Just last month, LADOT released two promotional videos (part 1) (part 2) that provide further context for how TDM can support sustainable development and transportation options in Los Angeles, and explain the TDM Calculator’s functions.
City Planning is currently preparing to release revised draft documents incorporating recent public feedback and will hold a virtual Open House and Public Hearing in early June to solicit additional public comment before the ordinance progresses to the City Planning Commission in Summer 2022. Previous drafts of the ordinance and program guidelines, an informational video, and fact sheet are available online.
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Council and Committee Referrals – Thursday, April 28, 2022

21-0658 Streamline 100 percent of deed-restricted affordable housing projects
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated April 27, 2022, relative to a strategic plan to streamline 100 percent of deed-restricted affordable housing projects and to improve processes and procedures for the development process

 

21-0972 Affordable Housing Overlay Zone.
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated April 27, 2022, relative to an Affordable Housing Overlay Zone.
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Council and Committee Referrals – Tuesday, April 26, 2022

2-0478 Return to in-person services.
To Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment
Motion (Buscaino – Blumenfield ) relative to directing all offices and departments that operate public counters to report on their plans to return to in-person services.

 

22-0600 2022-23 Proposed Budget.
To Budget and Finance Committee
Chief Legislative Analyst report, dated April 26, 2022, relative to an overview of the 2022-23 Proposed Budget.

 

22-0483 Regionwide Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Plan
To Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River Committee
Motion (Raman – et al. – Martinez) relative to instructing the Bureau of Sanitation, in partnership with the Biodiversity Expert Council and the Department of City Planning, to participate in convenings with local and regional jurisdictions, and conservation and environmental stakeholders regarding developing a Regionwide Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Plan.
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DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE HOLDING MEETINGS VIA TELECONFERENCE

The following is on the May 3, 2022, agenda for Habor APC and each APC will consider the same:

Motion Required. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 54953(e)(1)(B)-(C), (e)(3)(A), and (e)(3)(B)(i), a determination that the COVID-19 State of Emergency continues to directly impact the ability of members to meet safely in person and possible Commission action.

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Department of Building and Safety announced its in-person process

Starting April 25, 2022

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, along with other departments will resume in-person operations, while still being mindful of the health threats we face from COVID-19 by ensuring that any in-person visit adheres to all safety protocols. Please note that proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test within the last 72 hours will be required to enter public buildings and indoor masking will continue to be required.

Read DBS Annoucement and Process

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Targeted Amendments to City of Los Angeles 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (2021-2029)

Dear interested parties,

On November 24, 2021, the Los Angeles City Council adopted the 2021-2029 Housing Element. The City Planning and Housing Departments are proud to have worked collectively with stakeholders to create a bold Housing Element for Los Angeles centered on a commitment to expand housing opportunities for all Angelenos.

On February 22, 2022 the City received a letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) stating that additional revisions were needed to the Housing Element’s programs to ensure compliance with new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requirements in state law.

The City has been actively collaborating with HCD and responding to the guidance, directions, and technical assistance provided by HCD over the past two months to bring the City’s Housing Element into full compliance.

A draft of the proposed narrow set of targeted amendments is now available for public comment. This document contains a listing of amendments and additions to programs in Chapter 6 to clarify metrics, milestones, and strategies to affirmatively further fair housing, as well as expand place-based programs to encourage community revitalization. Programs which were not revised are available in Chapter 6 of the adopted Housing Element. With these modifications, the City believes that the Housing Element is in full compliance with all State Housing Element Law requirements and hopes to proceed with adoption later this spring.

The Department welcomes comments and feedback on the proposed targeted amendments, which may be provided to housingelement@lacity.org prior to April 27, 2022. Following that date, comments should be directed to cpc@lacity.org. Information regarding an upcoming Public Hearing will be provided in a future update. You can learn more about the effort and sign up to get involved at planning4la.org/Plan2HouseLA.

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Department of Building and Safety ePlanexpansion

Source: Department of Building and Safety, April 22, 2022

The City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has expanded its electronic plan review system known as ePlanLA (https://eplanla.lacity.org) to accept all plan check project types. ePlanLA is an online service for submitting plans for plan check, applying for permits, and tracking the progress of these applications.

For customers who previously registered for online services, please create an Angeleno Account using the same email previously used to register with the Los Angeles Building & Safety Department. This will allow users full access to all previously applied-for permits and services.

As the LADBS pursues new ways to enhance customer service, and improve the efficiency of the permitting process we thank you for being a valued customer. We look forward to continuing to meet your needs.

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LADBS Van Nuys and West LA Development Services Centers will continue the “Drop-off/Pick-up” system

Source:  Department of Building and Safety, April 21, 2022

Please be advised that, until further notice and consistent with other Development Services Departments, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) will continue the “Drop-off/Pick-up” system at the Van Nuys and West LA Development Services Centers until a reopening date is announced for in-person services. As the City emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, LADBS continues to provide services using modified procedures and practices to ensure the health and safety of both LADBS customers and staff.

The Metro office drop-off will no longer be available beginning Monday, April 25, 2022.

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Metro Development Services Center Reopening

Source:  Department of Building and Safety,  April 21, 2022

As the City begins to resume normal operations, the Metro (Figueroa Plaza) Development Services Center is scheduled to open to the public by appointment only beginning Monday, April 25, 2022. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Metro drop off will be discontinued.

Proof of vaccination and masks are required for in-person appointments.

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Department of Building and Safety announced its in-person process

Commentary provided by Chris Parker, Pacific Crest Consultants at PCC 

On Thursday, April 21, 2022, the Department of Building and Safety announced its in-person process. The following is from notes taken by PCC staff.

Here are my notes from the LADBS call. This was an LADBS-only call; Osama made the point that if we want to know what Planning, LADOT, Public Works, etc., are going to do, we need to ask those departments.

If anyone else heard something that the team should know, please reply-all to this email chain. Thanks!

Opening on Monday by appointment only:

  • 4th floor: Building, mechanical & electrical plan-check counters; express permits, records, and soft story
  • 5th floor: Green and DAS
  • 8th floor: plan-check verifications and plan-check counter
  • The other tower: Inspection and Code Enforcement

Appointments will be needed for these departments/counters. Appointments have to be made through Build LA. All departments on the same appointment system. Will be launched tonight or tomorrow morning.

Approved plans can be picked up on the 8th floor. No appointment is needed.

If you are going into Metro for an appointment or pickup, you need to show proof of vaccination and you must wear a mask inside the buildings.

No more drop-off at Metro. West LA and Van Nuys are the places to go for drop-offs. If you have plans for Metro, you’ve got to deliver to Metro. Plans won’t be transferred from WLA and/or Van Nuys to Metro or vice versa.

Zoning Information counter is not available in-person but will be available via email or phone.

They’re creating a dedicated staff for online submissions (“E-plan group”), urging that we submit online for “small” projects. Promise it’ll be reviewed in a couple of days.

If you want OTC and/or ECPC, make an appointment for in-person review. The plans will be screened and processed as normal and LADBS staff will make the determination on whether they’re OTC and/or ECPC.

They’re hoping to create an online waiting room to take questions and answer questions (like the info counter of pre-pandemic). It’ll take 4 weeks at least.

They’re creating a “joint stamping” system so that once LADBS is done, the plan-checker will alert the other departments (Fire Dept., Planning, BOE, Health) so those plans can be stamped. Fire already doing it; Planning and Health may not be ready to do this until June. LADBS says LID won’t need to stamp plans anymore.

GPI requests will be available for appointments 7:30a-9:30a. All other Grading functions will still be done via drop-off.

We can make appointments now to view records such as historic building plans.

SATT:  Unrelated to PCC notes: John Doe started a Petition asking Mayor Garcetti to direct LADBS to open their development service centers to the public and follow the examples set by neighboring cities.

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Council and Committee Referral – Tuesday, April 19, 2022

22-0404 Abatement of these nuisances.
To Council
City Attorney report R22-0122, dated April 13, 2022, relative to a draft Ordinance of Intention for the 2022 season determining and declaring that weeds, rubbish, refuse, and dirt on certain streets, sidewalks, parkways and on, or in front of, certain private properties in the City of Los Angeles are a public nuisance and declaring the intention of the Council to order abatement of these nuisances.
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DCP In-Person Operations

Dear Stakeholder,
City Planning is coordinating with the Mayor’s Office and other departments to resume certain in-person operations, while still being mindful of the health threats we face from COVID-19 by ensuring that any in-person visit adheres to the strictest safety protocols. Please note that proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test within the last 72 hours will be required to enter public buildings and well-fitted indoor masking will continue to be required.
Our Metro Development Service Center (DSC) will offer limited, by appointment only, in-person meetings for certain Metro/Downtown DSC services beginning April 25. These limited in-person meetings will be offered in support of specific planning operations only, including:
  • Application Case Intake
  • Case Condition Clearance
  • Plus More to Come
Additionally, limited in-person pre-filing consultations will be offered by the Metro/Downtown Housing Services Unit for select affordable housing projects in addition to virtual consultations. For more information, contact the Housing Services Unit at planning.priorityhousing@lacity.org.
Interested parties must make an appointment through the City’s newBuildLA portal, a singular website that provides a one-stop virtual platform for Development Services, including a new virtual appointment system. For customers who previously registered for online planning services, it’s recommended to create an Angeleno Account using the same email previously used to register with the City Planning Department. This will allow users full access to all previously applied-for permits and services.
The physical secure drop-off areas at the Metro/Downtown and Van Nuys DSCs will remain available to applicants who wish to submit their plans and applications during normal business hours without waiting for an initial filing appointment.
Thank you for your flexibility during these challenging times. The City Planning family greatly appreciates your adherence to our collective efforts in the face of this pandemic.
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L.A. Al Fresco Program

CF – 20-1074-S1    UPDATE

Mayor Garcetti extended the L.A. Al Fresco Program until December 31, 2020 through the Safer L.A. emergency authority. LADOT has finite resources to meet increasing applicant demand for the Program and to provide ongoing equipment rental costs incurred with each new curbside dining area or closure installation. Below outlines how the Department plans to adapt L.A. Al Fresco to address this challenge and to structure the Program in a way that benefits the most restaurants while being fiscally prudent and efficient.

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

  • 04/12/2022 Transportation Committee approved item(s) .
  • 04/07/2022 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 12, 2022.
  • 03/31/2022 Department of Transportation document(s) referred to Transportation Committee.   Report from Department of Transportation 03/30/2022
  • 03/30/2022 Document(s) submitted by Department of Transportation, as follows:  Report from Department of Transportation 03/30/2022

Los Angeles Department of Transportation report, dated March 30, 2022, relative to an update on the L.A. Al Fresco Program.

  • 11/05/2020 Council action final.
  • 11/04/2020 Council adopted item forthwith.  Report from Transportation Committee 10/27/2020
  • 10/30/2020 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on November 4, 2020.  Report from Transportation Committee 10/27/2020
  • 10/19/2020 Transportation Committee approved as amended to direct the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to report on extending the duration of the program, high speed street installations, and social distancing compliance.   Report from Department of Transportation 10/05/2020
  • 10/16/2020 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on October 19, 2020.  Report from Department of Transportation 10/05/2020
    10/08/2020 Department of Transportation document(s) referred to Transportation Committee.  Report from Department of Transportation 10/05/2020
  • 10/05/2020 Document(s) submitted by Department of Transportation, as follows:  Report from Department of Transportation 10/05/2020

Los Angeles Department of Transportation report, dated October 5, 2020, relative to an update on the L.A. Al Fresco Program.

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Council and Committee Referral – Friday, April 08, 2022

15-0499-S2 Ongoing tree and biodiversity planning, strategies and/or efforts to protect and grow the City’s urban canopy
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Motion (Harris-Dawson – Blumenfield) relative to instructing the Planning Department, Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Bureau of Street Services, Community Forest Advisory Committee, and Board of Public Works Forest Office, with the assistance of the City Attorney, to prepare a report regarding ongoing tree and biodiversity planning, strategies and/or efforts to protect and grow the City’s urban canopy.

 

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Council and Committee Referral – Tuesday, April 05, 2022

22-0002-S55 Recognize oak woodlands as essential habitat areas and propose steps for better oak tree and oak woodland conservation and stewardship
To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Resolution (Koretz – Blumenfield) relative to including in the City’s 2021-22 State Legislative Program its position on SB 1404 (Stem), which would officially recognize oak woodlands as essential habitat areas and propose steps for better oak tree and oak woodland conservation and stewardship.

 

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Council and Committee Referrals – Friday, April 01, 2022

22-0002-S51 Environmentally impacted communities
To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Resolution (Martinez – O’Farrell) relative to including in the City’s 2021-22 State Legislative Program its position on AB 2419 (Bryan, Garcia, Stone, Stern), if amended, to ensure the most environmentally impacted communities are properly represented on the Justice40 Oversight Committee and investments do not increase environmental justice challenges

 

22-0376 Illegal dumping and the need for education, eradication and enforcement
To Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River Committee
To Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee
Bureau of Sanitation report, dated March 31, 2022, relative to illegal dumping and the need for education, eradication and enforcement.

 

21-0372 Illegal dumping in the public right-of-way.
To Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River Committee
To Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee
Bureau of Sanitation report, dated March 31, 2022, relative to the Controller recommendations regarding illegal dumping in the public right-of-way.

 

17-0981-S7
CD 5		 Restaurant Beverage Program,  Council District Five
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
Resolution (Koretz – Krekorian) relative to activating a new streamlined permitting land use regulatory process, the Restaurant Beverage Program, that shall be in force and full effect in the geographical boundaries provided for Council District Five.
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Healthy Buildings, Healthy Places Webinars

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

The Urban Design Studio recently held virtual workshops to offer an update to the City’s Landscape Ordinance as part of the Healthy Buildings, Healthy Places Program. The virtual workshops provided attendees with the opportunity to offer feedback on the proposed strategies and contribute toward implementing healthy building design and climate-adapted site design.

At the workshops, City Planning shared strategies based on previous stakeholder feedback. This program, aimed at creating objective standards for landscape and site design, will reflect current best practices in addressing pressing climate needs and social factors, building upon the Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles and existing Citywide Design Guidelines in effect today.

Recordings of past presentations are available for viewing at the StoryMap linked below.

Healthy Buildings, Healthy Places StoryMap

 

 

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City Planning Collaborates with Students to Envision a More Connected Los Angeles for Wildlife

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

 

City Planning Collaborates with Students to Envision a More Connected Los Angeles for Wildlife
On March 17, City Planning’s Urban Ecologist Kat Superfisky took a group of Harvard Graduate School of Design students and their professor, Chris Reed, on a tour of the “soft-bottom” section of the Los Angeles River, also known as the Glendale Narrows. The students were in town for a site visit associated with their studio project, which is developing design solutions to enhance wildlife connectivity in the second-largest metropolitan area in the United States: Los Angeles.

The students traveled to Los Angeles to explore the different parts of its urban wilderness and gain insight into the challenges and opportunities that exist for enhancing wildlife connectivity in such an urbanized context. At the conclusion of the semester the budding architects, landscape architects, and urban design students will create design solutions for additional wildlife corridors and other connectivity-enhancing projects that could be funded and built in Los Angeles.

These educational and outreach opportunities, supported by City Planning, are intended to expose future generations to the urban ecosystem and equip practitioners, such as elected officials, with the tools needed to enhance the unique biodiversity locally here in Los Angeles

 

 

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Christmas Tree Retail Sale Disallowance / Two-Family Dwelling and Multiple Dwelling Residential Zones / Los Angeles Municipal Code / Amendment

CF  22-0147   AT PLUM    April 05, 2022

Motion (Raman – Koretz) relative to instructing the Department of City Planning and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, in consultation with the City Attorney, to report back within 60 days with recommendations for amending the Los Angeles Municipal Code to disallow the sale of Christmas trees in Two-Family Dwelling and Multiple Dwelling residential zones.

Community Impact Statement: Yes

For: Los Feliz Neighborhood Council

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

04/01/2022 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 5, 2022.   Motion 02/08/2022
03/29/2022 Community Impact Statement submitted by Los Feliz Neighborhood Council,Los Feliz Neighborhood Council.   Refer to CF  22-0147
02/08/2022 Motion referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.  Motion 02/08/2022

 

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No SB 9 guidelines yet, but parcel-by-parcel review is available

UPDATES April 1, 2022 *

Commentary provided by Chris Parker, Pacific Crest Consultants at PCC    Please note this post was prepared prior to the following being known:

* SATT:  Since the time of this posting, Los Angeles Planning Department  has issued “Implementation of Senate Bill 9 (2021) – Two-Unit Development and Urban Lot Splits”  Read the Memo  February 10, 2022  and California Department of Housing and Community Development prepared SB 9 Fact Sheet March 2022

* Government Code Sections 65852.21  and 66411.7

* HCD’s Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process Guidelines SB 35 March 2021

This material is typically available only to a paid subscriber, but its importance makes it necessary to allow access to all readers.

As previously reported, Sacramento passed a law late last year that requires cities, counties and other municipalities to approve the creation of up to 4 homes where 1 dwelling unit currently exists, beginning Jan. 1. The state allowed the local governments to exempt certain areas for specific reasons, including but not limited to fire/life/safety concerns, historic preservation, and Coastal resources.

Most local governments issued their regulations on how it would implement SB9 (as the law is known) in their jurisdiction before or on Jan. 1. The city of Los Angeles has not, although executives in the City Planning Department told PCC early last month that the regs would be released “soon.”

However, there is information now available that can help. City Planning recently updated its ZIMAS website so that parcels have a “SB9” link which lists 19 criteria that the subject parcel will be reviewed against to determine whether it is eligible for a fast-track lot split and development via SB9. And City Planning has already filled in the checklist, so property owners can see at a glance whether their parcel will be eligible for SB9 development.

As expected, the city is exempting large swaths of residential neighborhoods, negating the new state law for those property owners. Properties in HPOZs and multi-family zones can’t file for a SB9 lot development. Properties in the city’s very high fire hazard severity zones, 100-year flood zones, earthquake fault zones, and that serve as a habitat for protected species, are all ineligible too. And if the property isn’t located within a ½ mile walking distance of either a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, it’s ineligible too.

Property owners with parcels that are eligible for SB9 development will be able to split a lot with their single-family dwelling into two lots, and then construct up to two dwelling units per lot. SB9 also instructed local governments to process these developments administratively, which could potentially save significant time for property owners not to mention the headache of going through multiple public hearings. Owners who maximize their lots in this way will be required to file a covenant guaranteeing that they will reside in at least one of those four dwelling units for at least 3 years.

Still to come: SB9-specific applications and guidelines with guarantees for how these developments will be processed expeditiously.