Around the Corner

📆 May 2025 Highlights

• City of LA continued the implementation of the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP), which expands housing potential. See example applications below!

• UCLA’s Small Lots, Big Impacts, a first-of-its-kind initiative to turn vacant small lots into new starter homes, has announced the winners of its competition.

• Governor Newsom endorsed two legislative proposals aimed at streamlining housing development in urban areas. These proposals seek to reform CEQA and other permitting restrictions to accelerate the construction of new housing projects.

• LA Metro celebrated the grand opening of the Rail-to-Rail Active Transportation Corridor, a 5.5-mile multi-modal path and public green space connecting Inglewood and South Los Angeles.

May in Review 

City of LA Applications:

• Executive Directive 1 (ED1) and RED1: 10 ADM (+10 Pre-Application Review or PAR). Two Expanded Administrative Review (EAR) RED1 projects, a new designation under CHIP/AHIP:

  • 1016 N Ardmore Ave, EAR-2025-2991-AH-HCA-RED1: Demolition of the existing structures for a 100% AHIP development and construction of a 46-unit, 25,900 sf multi-family building with zero automobile parking located in the R3-1XL Zone in East Hollywood

  • 2900 Francis Ave, EAR-2025-3014-AH-HCA-RED1: New construction of a 100% affordable 8-story 53 unit apartment complex in Koreatown

• Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC): 3 pre-application reviews

• Appeals: 1 (1451 Hi Point St)

• Projects under newly finalized CHIP:

  • 2121 E Broadway, PAR-2025-3054-CM: New 9-unit affordable housing apartment building in Long Beach

  • 1158 W 37th Pl, EAR-2025-2699-DB-VHCA: New 7-unit residential building in South LA

Highlighted Applications

City of LA

• 1936 N Bronson Ave, ZA-2025-2961-ZV: Zone Variance request to convert residence to office use in Hollywood

• 12725 Chandler Blvd, ADM-2025-2937-OVR: New 2-story irregular-shaped SFD with habitable basement, attached covered patio, and JADU in NoHo

• 1027 S Norfolk Ave, DIR-2025-2776-CDP-MEL: Convert existing mezzanine and portion of existing garage into new 917 sf ADU with roof-top deck

• 1714 W 35th St, EAR-2025-2781-AH-VHCA: New construction of a 100% affordable 70-unit, 6-to 7-story residential building with accessory parking, open space and management office space

• 1901 Hyperion Ave, ZA-2025-2593-CUB: A cub to allow the on-site consumption and ancillary off-site sale of beer and wine with a proposed 885 sf restaurant having and a patio (under a separate alfresco permit request)

City of Santa Monica

• 5730 Uplander Way, P2025-0107: New 7-story multi-family residential (SB 330), including 287 dwelling units, 385 parking spaces; demolition of existing 30,878 sf of office

• 1401 3rd Street Promenade, 25ENT-0079: Coastal zone approval in concept for a tenant improvement and facade remodel for a 3,701 sf restaurant, Raising Cane's

Week Ahead

June 3 | LA Harbor Area Planning Commission

• 832 North Dominguez Ave, DIR-2024-4351-BSA-1A: An appeal by the Citizens for a Better Wilmington of the Department of Building and Safety action of issuing permits to establish an open storage, truck and trailer parking with associated automobile parking.

• Appeal argues: The Wilmington Community because of its location north of the Port of Los Angeles has a legacy of incompatible uses. One of the purposes of the CUGU ordinance is to reduce the cumulative impacts of incompatible uses which are near homes and other sensitive uses such as parks; and This project is a failure to meet the CUGU Ordinance.

June 3 | LA City Council

• 21101 West Ventura Blvd, CPC-2022-8609-ZC-HD-SPE-SPP-CU-SPR: Adopt the ordinance effectuating a Zone Change and Height District Change from C4-1LD and P-1LD to (T)C2-2 and deny the appeal filed by West Valley Alliance for Optimal Living and sustain the LACPC’s determination in:

  • Approving pursuant to the LAMC Section 11.5.7 F, Specific Plan Exceptions from the Ventura/Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan in conjunction with the development of a self-storage building

  • The project approvals include:

    1. Permission to build a self-storage facility with office space and relocate a hotel swimming pool.

    2. Approval to build a storage building for household goods near residential areas.

    3. A 20% reduction in required parking for the storage building.

    4. Approval for a site plan that increases nonresidential floor area by 50,000 sf.

    The project involves minor improvements to an existing hotel, including reconfiguring parking, demolishing the old pool, and building a new one. It also includes a six-story, 112,204-sf self-storage facility with office space, loading areas, and parking.

June 4 | LA City Council

• Authorization for the commencement of eminent domain proceedings to acquire the subject properties located at 9600 South Sepulveda Boulevard, portions of 9700 South Sepulveda Boulevard, 6155 West 98th Street and 6200-6206 West 96th Street, and a portion of 6151 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90045; for the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Project (ATMP) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

• 4579 West Hollywood Blvd, DIR-2023-2838-TOC-SPP-SPR-HCA-1A: Deny the appeal filed by SAFER and sustain the LACPC’s determination in approving a Categorical Exemption as the environmental clearance for the demolition of an existing commercial building and surface parking lot and the construction, use, and maintenance of a seven-story, 174,021 sf, 181-unit mixed-use building within Subarea C of the Vermont/Western Station Neighborhood Area Plan Specific Plan.

June 4 | West LA Planning Commission

• 471 South Loring Ave, ZA-2024-8034-ADJ-1A: A major remodel and addition to an existing 3,765 sf, two-story SFD, including a 943 sf addition, a 2,691 sf basement, and swimming pool, resulting in a two-story, 4,708 sf, two-story SFD with adjustments to allow for a six-foot northerly side yard, 5'-7 1/4" southerly side yard, and/image minor protrusions projecting over the 45-degree Encroachment Plane in the R1 Zone.

June 4 | Santa Monica Planning Commission

• Adoption of Resolution Number 25-010 (PCS), Resolution of Intention related to potential amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to Promote Economic Recovery and Increase Land Use Flexibility in the City’s Downtown Area. Staff Report.

• Update and Discussion on the Airport Conversion Project 3 Scenarios. Staff: Amber Richane, Public Works. Presentation.

• Recommendation to the City Council on Proposed Amendments to the Text of the City’s Zoning Ordinance to Allow Cannabis Retailers to Sell Adult-Use and Medicinal Cannabis and Cannabis Products Within Certain Zoning Districts. Staff Report.

June 5 | LA North Valley Area Planning Commission

• 11146 – 11148 Lorne St, APCNV-2019-3202-ZCJ: Zone Change from R1-1-CUGU to (T)(Q)RD1.5-1-CUGU. The Project involves the demolition of three existing SFD units for the construction of a 17 unit apartment with attached garages on an approximate 26,296.6 sf lot. The Project is a mix of 17 market rate and affordable housing units (1 unit for ELI Households and 1 unit for VLI Household)

• 8401 and 8431 North Sunland Blvd, APCNV-2020-1321-SPE-CU-ZV: Demolition of the existing 5,763 sf restaurant and the construction of a 4,295 sf self-service car wash, 23 vacuums, and a new landscaping on a 37,801 sf lot zoned with C2-1VL-CUGU and P-1VL-CUGU.

June 5 | Pasadena Board of Zoning Appeals

• 1427 Arroyo View Dr, Staff Report:

  • 1) Hillside Development Permit: To allow a 994 sf second-story addition and a 52 sf first-story addition to an existing 1,664 sf single-story, single-family residence. The property is located within the RS-4-HD (Single-Family Residential, 0-4 dwelling units per acre, Hillside Overlay) zoning district; and

  • 2) Minor Variance: To allow the alteration of an existing exterior wall within the required 7’-3” south side setback, where the existing wall is setback 4’-10”.

  • Staff Recommendation: 1) Find that the project is exempt from the CEQA; and 2) Uphold the Hearing Officer’s November 20, 2024 decision and approve the Hillside Development Permit and Minor Variance.