Month: March 2024

by

Marketing and Tenant Selection Procedures / New Covenanted Affordable Housing Units / Unsubsidized / Mixed-Income Projects / Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) / Density Bonus / Comprehensive Online Affordable Housing Search System

CF  24-0124    AT CITY COUNCIL 04.03.2024

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to governing procedures for the marketing and tenant selection for newly constructed covenanted affordable housing units in unsubsidized, mixed income projects created through Transit Oriented Communities (TOC), Density Bonus and similar programs; and if changes will be necessitated by the roll out of the Comprehensive Online Affordable Housing Search System; and related matters.

Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Yaroslavsky – Raman – Harris-Dawson):

DIRECT the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), with assistance from the Department of City Planning (DCP), to report to Council in 90 days on the procedures governing the marketing and tenant selection for newly constructed covenanted affordable housing units in unsubsidized, mixed income projects created through TOC, Density Bonus and similar programs, the extent of City oversight of these processes, and what if any changes will be necessitated by the roll out of the Comprehensive Online Affordable Housing Search System as directed by Motion (Raman – Harris-Dawson), attached to Council file No. 23-0426.

DIRECT the City Administrative Officer (CAO), with assistance from the LAHD, DCP, City Attorney, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), and with requested input from the Service Planning Area lead service homeless agencies, to report to Council in 90 days on the feasibility of prioritizing newly constructed covenanted affordable housing units in unsubsidized, mixed income projects for low-acuity people experiencing homelessness via partnerships with service providers or LAHSA, early marketing, master leasing arrangements or other potential programs.

DIRECT the CAO, with assistance from the LAHD, DCP, and the City Attorney, to report to Council in 90 days on the feasibility of prioritizing newly constructed covenanted affordable housing units in unsubsidized, mixed income projects for workers whose employment is either with the City or is located within the City’s boundaries, including, but not limited to, unionized service workers.

Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the CAO nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.

Community Impact Statement: None submittal

Continue reading →

by

South Los Angeles Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO) District / Zone Changes and Amendments

CF 20-1265-S1  AT PLUM 04.02.2024  Continued from March 5, 2024

Verbal update from the Department of City Planning in response to Motion (Harris-Dawson – Raman) requesting the City Attorney to incorporate additional recommendations to those adopted by the Council on January 20, 2023, to amend the South Los Angeles Community Plan Implementation Overlay Ordinance, and to address displacement and the preservation of affordable housing.

by

Executive Directive 1 (ED1)

Dear Interested Parties,
Executive Directive 1 (ED 1) expedites the processing of shelters and 100% affordable housing projects in Los Angeles. Eligible projects receive expedited processing, clearances, and approvals through the ED 1 Ministerial Approval Process.
The ED 1 Implementation Guidelines have been updated as of March 21, 2024. The updates include:
  1. A new ED 1 Property Owner Declaration to be provided to LAHD as a requirement of project review;
  2. Technical clarification on eligibility and City Planning application filing standards to qualify for the ED1 Ministerial Approval Process;
  3. Technical updates to LAHD Replacement Unit Determination procedures, reflecting new State law in effect as of January 1, 2024.
Please read the implementation guidelines for additional information.
For more information, please visit the Department of City Planning’s dedicated ED 1 landing page.
by

Southwest Valley Community Plans: Draft Zoning and Plan Text Release

Dear Community Members,
We are excited to announce the release of several draft components of the Southwest Valley Community Plans, encompassing the Canoga Park – Winnetka – Woodland Hills – West Hills, Encino – Tarzana, and Reseda – West Van Nuys – Lake Balboa Community Plans:
Accompanying these materials you will find topical handouts describing the Plans’ strategies relating to: Complete Neighborhoods, Areas of Change, Affordable Housing, Jobs & Economic Development, Environmental analysis process, Climate Resilience & Sustainability, Neighborhood Identity, and Hillsides.
To learn more about the updates to the Community Plans and to provide feedback, please explore the interactive draft zoning map, share your thoughts in the feedback form, and visit our project website.
Join us for upcoming Virtual Office Hours
The Plan Update team will be holding virtual office hours where stakeholders can sign up to meet one-on-one with planning staff. The office hours provide an opportunity for more in-depth discussions of topics relevant to the Southwest Valley Community Plan Updates. The team will be sending out information on how to RSVP for an office hour session shortly, please stay tuned!
You may also provide written comments on the draft proposals via this feedback form.
We look forward to discussing the draft Plan and hearing your feedback!
Other Community Engagement Opportunities
The Southwest Valley team will be reaching out to neighborhood councils and other community organizations to set up opportunities to discuss our draft proposal and answer questions. We will share information about future scheduled meetings on our project website soon.
Keep in Touch
Please visit our recently updated project website to review the draft proposals and sign-up to receive updates by email about upcoming events.
Thank you for your interest and engagement in the Southwest Valley Community Plans. Any questions or feedback can be sent to the project team at planning.swvalley@lacity.org.

 

by

Citywide Housing Incentive Program

Dear Interested Parties,
Don’t miss out on your chance to join one of our upcoming webinars to learn more about the ordinances released as part of the Housing Element Rezoning Program! This includes the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) Ordinance, Housing Element Sites Ordinance and Resident Protections Ordinance. More information on each of these ordinances can be found below as well as on City Planning’s website here. Please click the date and time below to register. Note that the content of all three webinars will be the same.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 (English)
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (Spanish)
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (English)

 

by

East San Fernando Valley Transit Neighborhood Plan

 

Dear Community Members,
Last year, Los Angeles City Planning launched the East San Fernando Valley Transit Neighborhood Plan (ESFV TNP) in anticipation of the new Metro light rail train that is coming to Van Nuys Boulevard. The ESFV TNP is a multi-year work program that will apply new land use designations and zoning regulations about a half-mile around the train route, specifically within portions of the Pacoima, Arleta, and Panorama City communities. The purpose of proactively updating land use and zoning along the corridor is to ensure that new developments arising as a result of the light rail project will bring equitable housing opportunities for the community, support transit ridership and mobility access, and advance economic vitality in the region.
Where We’ve Been
The ESFV TNP program involves opportunities for public participation at every phase of the process. Initial community outreach and engagement for the ‘Listen’ phase of the work program began in Fall 2023. As part of this phase of engagement, the ESFV TNP team has been spreading awareness about the program, building relationships with local organizations, and sharing educational materials to afford community members the foundational knowledge needed to meaningfully participate in the planning process.
Last year, the ESFV TNP team conducted various engagement activities as part of the ‘Listen’ phase of the work program. Staff visited local Neighborhood Councils, tabled at community events, guest taught a land use and zoning class at Pacoima Beautiful’s People’s Collaborative Academy, and presented to students in CSUN’s Political Science Student Association. We appreciated every opportunity to engage with community members and look forward to future engagements with other community groups.
What’s Happening Next
As part of the ongoing ‘Listen’ phase, the ESFV TNP team will continue to collaborate and engage with stakeholders to understand the community’s needs, priorities, and vision for the future development of their neighborhood. The team will utilize all of the feedback heard as they proceed to draft land use maps, which are tentatively scheduled to be released for public review by Winter 2024-2025.
Keep in Touch
Please visit our recently refreshed website to learn more about the work program, review materials from previous events, and sign-up to receive updates by email and/or text message about upcoming events and activities.
Thank you for your interest and engagement with the ESFV TNP program. Any questions or feedback can be sent to the project team at planning.esfvtnp@lacity.org.

 

by

Council and Committee Referral – March 18, 2024

 

23-1264-S1
CD 2
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
City Attorney report R24-0119, dated March 15, 2024, relative to draft Ordinance to establish the District NoHo Sign District.

 

15-0719-S26
To Public Works Committee
To Transportation Committee
Department of Transportation supplemental report, dated March 14, 2024, relative to Mobility Plan 2035 implementation in compliance with Measure HLA.

 

by

Council and Committee Referral – Friday, March 15, 2024

 

23-0002-S104
To Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Resolution (Rodriguez – Soto-Martinez) relative to including in the City’s 2023-24 State Legislative Program a position on AB 2550 (Gabriel), which would allow small neighborhood restaurants to operate without drinking fountains, allow small businesses to operate without separate gender restrooms and instead allow gender-neutral restrooms, and provide clarity on required protective services for outdoor food preparation.

 

by

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) / Certificate of Occupancy / Amnesty Program / Unpermitted ADUs / Garage Conversions

CF 16-1468-S1

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Report with recommendations relative to identifying and reporting the proper mechanism and documentation necessary for waiving the requirement of a Certificate of Occupancy as the basis for accessory dwelling units (ADU) conversions and the development of an ADU Amnesty Program, and related matters.

Fiscal Impact Statement: No

Community Impact Statement: Yes

Against: Chatsworth Neighborhood Council
Studio City Neighborhood Council

Continue reading →

by

Council and Committee Referrals – 03/12/202

 

23-0172
CD 5
To Housing and Homelessness Committee
Department of City Planning report, dated March 8, 2024, relative to the recommendations of developing a local zoning Ordinance for affordable housing development on sites owned by religious institutions and properties owned by faith-based institutions located in Council District 5

 

22-1566
To Planning and Land Use Management Committee
City Administrative Officer report 0220-06178-0000, dated March 11, 2024, relative to the fiscal impact to prepare and adopt a Climate Action and Adoption Plan.

 

by

Citywide Housing Incentive Program

 

Dear Interested Parties,
Thank you for your helpful feedback on the core concepts of the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP), a key Housing Element Rezoning Program strategy. As a result of conversations and public feedback over the course of 2023, City Planning is excited to announce the release of four draft ordinances supporting the Housing Element Rezoning Program and to kick off the next phase of outreach. These ordinances include the:
  • Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) Ordinance
  • Housing Element Sites Ordinance
  • Resident Protections Ordinance
  • Citywide Adaptive Reuse Ordinance
More information on each of these ordinances can be found below as well as on City Planning’s website here.
The CHIP Ordinance has three programs that encompass key CHIP strategies that would increase housing capacity along major streets in higher opportunity areas and in areas with access to public transit. The programs also encourage affordable housing development citywide on underutilized properties owned by faith-based organizations, parking lots and publicly owned sites (see Fact Sheet). The three programs include the:
  • State Density Bonus Program, which proposes technical revisions to clarify procedures and to affirm consistency with State Density Bonus Law;
  • Mixed Income Incentive Program, which seeks to establish tailored incentives for mixed-income housing providing deed-restricted affordable housing units in priority areas, including along and nearby major corridors located in higher opportunity areas; and embed enhanced transit-based incentives into the Los Angeles Municipal Code; and
  • Affordable Housing Incentive Program, which offers incentives for 100% affordable housing projects, with added bonuses in Higher and Moderate Resource areas, and tailored citywide incentives for sites owned by faith-based organizations, public land, and parking-zoned areas.
In addition to the CHIP Ordinance, the Department is also releasing three ordinances intended to codify important resident protections for housing demolished as part of new housing developments; to comply with state housing element law; and to expand adaptive reuse incentives. These include the:
  • Resident Protections Ordinance, which aims to enhance and build upon current regulations concerning tenant protections, affordability term durations, and the size, location and amenities for affordable housing units. The Ordinance would apply to all development projects that include affordable housing or result in the demolition of housing (see Fact Sheet).
  • Housing Element Sites Ordinance, which aims to implement various state housing element law requirements that apply to three different categories of sites identified throughout the housing element process (see Fact Sheet).
  • Citywide Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, previously released in May 2023, which has been updated to address feedback received during the initial outreach phase and to expand incentives for adaptive reuse projects providing affordable housing. Links to the most up to date Draft Ordinance and Fact Sheet can be found here.
You can learn more about each of these ordinances by reviewing the Fact Sheets and additional draft materials on City Planning’s website here. Additionally, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming webinars to learn more and share your feedback on the CHIP Ordinance, the Housing Element Sites Ordinance, and the Resident Protections Ordinance. Please click the date and time below to register. Note that the content of all three webinars will be the same.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 (English)
‌
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (Spanish)
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (English)
Note that an announcement with dates for staff level public hearings for these ordinances will be sent via email at a later date.
Please reach out to housingelement@lacity.org with questions or to provide comments on the draft ordinances mentioned above. Again, thank you for your continued engagement with Los Angeles City Planning, and stay tuned for more updates!
About the Citywide Housing Incentive Program
Following the 2022 certification of the 2021-2029 Housing Element, City Planning staff has been working to develop and implement the ambitious programs identified in the Plan to House LA. The Plan identified that there is a significant housing need in Los Angeles, reflected by high rents, overcrowded conditions, and increasing housing instability. The Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) aims to address the City of Los Angeles’ significant housing needs by providing greater housing access to meet its state housing obligations. The CHIP will be implemented through one or more zoning code amendments developed simultaneously over a two-year period (2023-2025). To learn more about the program click here.