Around the Corner

LA’s PLUM Committee and City Commissions are back in session. What else is new?

• New bill being put forth at the state senate, SB 750: The California Housing Finance & Credit Act, to pursue a constitutional amendment that would use the state’s credit to guarantee loans and municipal bonds for housing developers

• You can track wildfire recovery permitting data across areas of unincorporated LA using the County’s dashboard

The Week Ahead

Aug 12 | LA Planning and Land Use Mgmt Committee

• 12229 W Gault St, ZA-2022-7780-CUW-1A: upholding the Zoning Administrator’s determination in approving a CE as the environmental clearance for the installation, use and maintenance of a new, unmanned 50-foot wireless telecommunications facility monopole (disguised as eucalyptus tree)

• 11651 Riverside Dr, ZA-2024-7708-RV: Appeal filed by VA Corner Dining, Inc. in requiring the modification of the operation of a restaurant, known as Full House Restaurant, in order to mitigate adverse impacts caused by said operation and any potential impacts caused by any future operation of the use. The business owner/operator is appealing Condition Nos. 8 (Hours of Operation), 22 (Outdoor Speakers) and 31.a (Security Guard).

• 3601 N Mission Rd, CPC-2022-6189-CU-DB-ZAA-SPR-HCA-1A: Decision on appeals filed by SAFER and the Lincoln Heights Preservation Coalition on the determination of the LACPC in approving a CE as the environmental clearance for the construction of a new seven-story residential development with 184 residential units, including 47 VLI units, above two levels of automobile parking under the Density Bonus program

• 23416 S President Ave, DIR-2024-7352-BSA-1A: Report from the LACPC’s determination in denying an appeal filed by Concerned Residents of Green Meadows West - Harbor City and sustaining the Director of Planning’s Determination and Findings denying the appeal, and finding that the LADBS did not err or abuse its discretion in preparing to issue the Supplemental Building Permit for the use of land in conjunction with a new recreational vehicle park as a Public Benefit Project

• CPC-2024-6096-CA: A proposed ordinance, pursuant to Section 13B.1.3.D.3 of Chapter 1A of the LAMC, relative to a Citywide Code Amendment that will: 1) add a new definition for High Value Development Projects in Chapters 1 and 1A of the LAMC; and 2) limit the duration and number of time extensions that the City Council and an applicant may consent to for the City Council’s time to act on any application for High Value Development Projects, including its appeals, and all CEQA appeals; and adoption of project findings.

• Motion (Raman, Yaroslavsky - Blumenfield) to instruct the Department of City Planning (DCP) to report on the following: 1) Create an organizational chart of relevant DCP staff; 2) On position reclassifications or deletions that might achieve cost savings and further permit streamlining; 3) On other pre-entitlement work that could be shifted into the Bureau; 4) Develop public facing dashboards, inclusive of information regarding project-type submittals, planning approvals, permit issuances, and average response and approval times for projects in the City; and 5) On achievable metrics of success based on the Bureau’s stated objectives to efficient and effective development citywide.

Aug 12 | Pasadena Design Commission

• 2915 E Colorado Blvd, DHP2025-00059: Demolition of existing commercial buildings and construction of a new 61,370 sf auto sales and service building, a new 4,864 sf automated carwash accessory building, and new paving for customer parking and inventory display. Approval for the application for Final Design Review subject to conditions. Staff Report. Renderings.

Aug 14 | LA City Planning Commission

• 825 S Hampton Dr, CPC-2024-2450-DB-CDP-SPPC-CUB-VHCA-MEL: Demolition of five, one-story, commercial buildings and the construction of a new four-story, 36,716 sf mixed-use development consisting of 30 dwelling units (including three VLI units), 2,598 sf of retail use, an 818 sf restaurant with 31 seats, requesting on-site sale and consumption of a full line of alcoholic beverages, and two levels of subterranean parking providing 50 parking spaces. In addition, the Project includes a landscaped plaza, roof deck, and three new street trees, where one existing street tree will be protected in place.

• 4773 Hollywood Blvd, CPC-2024-4114-CU3-DB-SPPC-PR-VHCA: Construction, use, and maintenance of a new 86-unit mixed-use building with nine units restricted to VLI Households, on an approximately 28,472 sf site within Subarea A and Subarea B of the Vermont/Western SNAP Specific Plan. The proposed project is comprised of a six-story, 69-ft in height mixed-use building, with approximately 2,596 sf of commercial space, one at-grade parking level and one subterranean parking level, and a total of 93,286 sf of floor area resulting in a FAR of 3.57:1. The Project will provide 93 vehicular parking spaces, 49 residential bicycle parking spaces and eight commercial bicycle parking spaces, 10,086 sf of usable open space, 11 new street trees, four existing street trees, and 14 new on-site trees. The Project will require the export of approximately 20,000 cubic yards of soil.

• 1420 Coil Ave, CPC-2022-6859-GPA-HD-ZAD-WDI: Improvement and expansion of an existing one-story, 42-ft tall, 221,496 sf cold storage facility, resulting in a two-story, 65-ft tall, 267,960 sf facility, with a total 0.36:1 FAR. The expansion includes the demolition of a 27,157 sf existing cold dock for a new 71,331 sf freezer, resulting in a net addition of 44,174 sf of new floor area. The improvements include 2,290 sf of a new engine/mechanical room, electrical room, and fire pump room. The Project also involves a new automated racking system, other interior improvements, and decreasing the length of the existing double rail spur. The Project will provide 114 parking spaces, with no trees to be removed, and the grading of less than 500 cubic yards of soil and import of 7,000 cubic yards of soil

Aug 14 | South Valley Area Planning Commission

• 15120 Keswick St, ZA-2024-6807-ZV-1A: A Zone Variance to permit the installation of an automobile spray paint booth at an existing auto body repair shop that is located within 500-ft of a school, A, or R zone as otherwise prohibited under Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 12.24 W.4

• 3902 N Pacheco Dr, ZA-2018-1347-ZAD-1A: The construction, use and maintenance of a new two-story, 33-foot tall, 2,475 sf single-family dwelling with an attached 1,081 square foot JADU and an attached three-car garage with a roof deck. An appeal from the Organization of Pacheco Home Owners of the project. Appellant argues that several of the requested entitlements for the proposed project were approved in error, and the case should in effect be re-heard due to the failure to properly notify the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) as an abutting property owner

  • ZA also dismissed a ZA's Determination to permit 1,199 cubic yards of grading cut and exporting quantity in lieu of the maximum 1,000 cubic yards otherwise permitted in the R1 Zoned on a lot fronting a Substandard Hillside Limited Street per the LAMC Section 12.21 C.10.(f)(1), for the construction of a new SFD unit with an attached garage, as the applicant has proposed grading that is less than 1,000 cy

Week in Review

Highlighted Applications

Apologies for the continued delay in map updates on the platform. We're aware of the issue and it will be resolved soon. Thank you for your patience.

City of LA 

• 420 S Westlake Ave, ADM-2025-4491-RDP: Interior remodel to existing vacant space, adding office space by adding partitions. No change in building footprint nor use.

• 2908 Robertson Pl, EAR-2025-4479-AH-VHCA-RED1: Construction of 3 new buildings for 162 100% affordable dwelling units, max height of 93 ft, 106,103 sf of floor area. A 10,795 sf church is also proposed on-site in the MU(EC) Zone.

• 1454 Esperanza St, ADM-2025-4472-RDP: Demolition of existing 1-story warehouse, and new 1-story warehouse

• 2669 S Redondo Blvd, ENV-2025-4440-EAF: 23 unit apartment complex with on-grade and subterranean parking

• 3154 Los Feliz Blvd, DIR-2025-4386-POD: Demolishing portion of existing store front and addition of 21 sf to the front of the building

• 1000 E 1st St, ZA-2025-4383-MPA: MPA to allow on-site sale of full line of alcoholic with a restaurant with new operator, having a total of 73 seats

Santa Monica

• 1238 7th St, 25ENT-0149: Sb 330 preliminary application for a 100% affordable housing development consisting of a 4-story residential building which includes 23 deed restricted affordable units

• 143 Fraser Ave, 25ENT-0147: Coastal Zone Approval in Concept for a 232 sf ADU conversion from an existing detached garage.

Highlighted Completions

City of LA

• 11724 Ventura Blvd, DIR-2024-1271-SPPC-WDI: Approved with conditions a major project permit compliance within the Ventura / Cahuenga Blvd Corridor specific plan for new 9554 sf 2-story veterinary clinic

• 110 N Mapleton Dr, ZA-2024-5111-ADJ: Approved with conditions addition of an accessory structure in the front yard setback to a lot improved with a SFD in Bel Air - Beverly Crest

• 9776 Suffolk Dr, DIR-2023-4666-DRB-SPP-MSP-HCA: Approved with conditions to demolish existing SFD and construct new 2-story 6,910 sf SFD with detached 1-story ADU

• 3191 Toppington Dr, DIR-2024-4993-MSP-DRB-SPPC: Approved with conditions construction of a new 439 sfRecreation Room with top deck in conjunction with an existing 7,784 sf SFD with a new residential floor area of 8, 223 sf

• 7937 Foothill Blvd, ENV-2024-5923-EAF: Terminated density bonus new 100% affordable 63 unit mixed use apartment building with ground floor commercial

• 3625 S Grand Ave, ZA-2025-2009-ZV: Approved with conditions zone variance from LAMC section 14.4.10 to allow two signs to be located within five ft of an interior lot line

• 17534 W Posetano Rd, DIR-2024-2393-MEL: Approved with conditions a vacant site proposing new SFD with ADU attached

• 6021 E La Prada, VTT-82838-SL: Terminated demolition of 3 existing single-family dwellings on 3 RD1.5 zoned lots and the construction of 18 single-family dwellings as part of a small lot subdivision. Opposition and appeal previously from the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council