Around the Corner

Summer’s here and LA Planning is back and busy ☀️ 🕶️

Have you checked out City of LA’s FrameWORK: Land Use series? It’s a deep dive into how LA is rethinking its General Plan Framework and aligning it with the re:code LA zoning code update.

Buyer’s Market? Redfin analysis shows that in April, the national housing market saw about 34% more sellers than buyers, the largest imbalance since records began in 2013.

The Week Ahead

June 24 | LA City Council

• 820 West Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, CPC-2024-6309-HD-ZC: Adopt the findings of the LACPC and adopt the ordinance to effectuate a Zone Change and Height District Change to modify the previous approval to allow a maximum building height of 65 feet, instead of 54 feet plus an additional 11 feet for elevator shafts, solar panels, and equipment otherwise permitted, subject to the Tentative “T” and Qualified “Q” Classifications and “D” Development Limitations, attached to the Council file; for the reconfiguration of the ground floor plan, enhancement of facade materials, and enclosure of the rooftop steel structure as part of a proposed Hyundai car dealership.

  • Advise the applicant that: ...property shall not remain in a Q Qualified classification for more than six years unless during that time: (1) there is substantial physical development of the property to allow for one or more of the uses for which the Q Qualified classification was adopted; or (2) if no physical development is necessary, then the property is used for one or more of the purposes for which the Q Qualified classification was adopted... When these time limitations expire, the Q Qualified classification and the authority contained therein shall become null and void

• 1100 East 5th St, CPC-2016-3726-GPA-VZC-HD-DB-MCUP-SPR: Application began in 2016 and went through EIR process. Adopt the findings of LACPC and adopt a Vesting Zone Change and Height District Change from the M3-1-RIO to (T)(Q)C2-2-RIO Zone, pursuant to LAMC Sections 12.32 F and Q; for the proposed demolition of three existing warehouse buildings and a surface parking lot for the construction of an eight-story mixed-use building comprised of 220 live/work units, of which 11% for VLI households, 46,548 sf of commercial uses, and three subterranean parking levels, the Project would total 249,758 sf of floor area on a 1.2-acre site, resulting in a FAR of 4.77:1, and includes a Flexibility Option that provides the flexibility to replace 20 live/work units with an additional 17,765 sf of commercial uses

  • VTT-74549-2A: Decide to partly deny and partly approve the appeal by SAFER, and support the LACPC's decision to approve merging eight lots into one for residential and commercial condos. This includes waiving certain requirements on 5th Street and Seaton Street and approving a route to remove up to 81,000 cubic yards of soil.

June 24 | LA Planning and Land Use Mgmt Committee

• 7500 North Chaminade Ave, CPC-2023-1254-VZC-HD-ZAD-ZAA: expansion of an existing high school campus with no increase in student enrollment, the revised campus plan would include a total lot area of approximately 25.86 acres, inclusive of: 1) A new three-story school building, updated parking areas, remodeled athletic fields, new student quads, and renovated classrooms, student service centers and offices on the existing campus; 2) An expanded school campus area of approximately 4.83 acres located across Saticoy Street, proposed for new athletic fields, an aquatic center/outdoor swimming pool, accessory facilities/structures and associated surface parking facilities; and 3) A new pedestrian bridge across Saticoy Street, the revised campus plan for the high school would include a total of 196,468 sf of floor area equating to a FAR of approximately 0.17:1 FAR

• 5300 North Oakdale Ave, ZA-2023-2170-ZAD-ZV-ZAA-2A: Approval of and review of appeal for project that is within the scope of the program approved in the 2021-2029 Housing Element, and the 2021-2029 Housing Element Environmental Impact Report; approving a Zone Variance to permit a 15-foot hedgerow along the northern edge of Lots 1-10. ZAD Findings.

  • The LACPC and the Applicant failed to mutually agree on an extension of time for the first-level appellate body to act beyond the specified 75 days, mandated by Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Sections 12.24.X, 12.27, 12.28.A and 13B.5.3. Pursuant to Government Code Section 66452.5(c)(1) and LAMC Section 13A.2.8.F.2, if there is a failure for the appeal board to render a timely decision on the appeal, then the decision shall result in a denial of the appeal.

• 550 South Shatto Pl, CPC-2024-4111-DB-PR-VHCA-1A: Decision on appeal filed by SAFER for a development project that creates or results in an increase of 50 or more dwelling units or guest rooms; for the demolition of the existing uses, and re-purposing of the existing church building for the construction, use and maintenance of a new eight-story, 262,638 sf mixed-use building with 318 dwelling units, including 35 VLI dwelling units and 21,482 sf of commercial space, with a maximum building height of 96 feet over two subterranean levels of parking

• 12531 - 12575 West Beatrice St, ENV-2020-3533-EIR-1A: Decision on appeal from SAFER and review of LACPC’s determination in approving an EIR as the environmental clearance for the demolition of an existing 23,072 sf office building and two accessory buildings, totaling 7,188 sf; the retention of an 87,881 sf office building; and the construction of a new eight-story office building with up to 196,100 sf of office space and 3,400 sf of ground floor commercial space

June 24 | Central LA Area Planning Commission

• 8334 West 3rd St, ZA-2024-5524-CUB-1A: Decision on appeal of a Conditional Use permit to allow the sale and dispensing of a full-line of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption in conjunction with a proposed 1,558 square-foot restaurant with live entertainment including a DJ, live music and karaoke with 85 indoor seats and four outdoor patio seats within the public-right-of-way. The hours of operation are proposed from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., daily

• 5920 West Sunset Blvd, ZA-2024-7613-CU2-1A: Decision on appeal of a Conditional Use to allow site improvements of an existing 1,734 sf drive-through fast-food establishment, including a building addition of 205 sf, a new 1,627 sf covered outdoor dining area, changes to the existing drive-through circulation, extended hours of operation beyond those allowed for a Commercial Corner development, reduced window transparency, a waiver from the required five-foot landscape buffer abutting a residential zone, and the replacement of two existing pole signs.

June 25 | East LA Area Planning Commission

• 1943 West Escarpa Dr, ZA-2023-904-ZAD-HCA-1A: Appeal of ZAD partial approval and denial of proposed Project includes a new 2,201 sfsingle-family dwelling, 458 sf attached garage, and 799 sft Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on an unimproved 5,760 sf lot fronting on a Substandard Hillside Limited Street, Escarpa Drive, in the R1-1-HCR Zone. The subject property includes eight on-site protected trees (California Live Oak), one on-site protected shrub (Mexican Elderberry), and two on-site non-protected trees.

  • Denied a Zoning Administrator’s Determination to permit the construction, use, and maintenance of a new single-family dwelling with an attached garage and an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on a lot fronting a Substandard Hillside Limited Street (West Escarpa Drive) without providing a 20-foot-wide-Adjacent Minimum Roadway as required by LAMC Section 12.21 C.10(i)(2)

Week in Review

Highlighted Applications

City of LA 

• 4459 Lowell Ave, ADM-2025-3479-OVR: To establish a nursery/childcare, on the subject property that is associated with the religious institution (church) also located on the site

• 9720 Baden Ave, ADM-2025-3444-PMUL-HCA: SB9 urban lot split of parcel with existing SFD and ADU, no construction proposed

• 6201 Kester Ave, ZA-2025-3439-CUB: CUB for the sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption at an existing market

• 200 N Spring St, ZA-2025-2976-ZAI: Revised Zoning Administrator Interpretation (ZAI) to define oil well maintenance

• 5027 Almaden Dr, ZA-2025-3473-ADJ: Proposed adjustments to side yards, residential floor area, and encroachment planes to facilitate a building addition to an existing SFD within the R1-zone

• 12461 Louise Ave, PAR-2025-3471-AH-PHP: Construction, use, and maintenance of a 60 units, 5 story, 100% affordable housing, and 1 unit reserved for the manager's unit

• 112 N Mariposa Ave, PAR-2025-3470-TOC-TV: Residential, IA over VA Construction, 64'-0" Height, 17 parking spaces, multi-family 23 units, 2 rec rooms

Highlighted Completions

City of LA

• 4949 N Nofral Rd, ZA-2021-10333-ZAD: Partially approved ZAD to waive the 20-foot wide roadway improvement fronting site and waive it from the driveway apron to the hillside boundary

• 8140 Mcgroarty St, ENV-2016-2070-MND: Terminated 13-lot single-family subdivision, including 1 open space lot

• 20012 W Chase St, DIR-2025-173-SPPC-SPPA: Approved with conditions the construction, use, and maintenance of 20,485.82 sf of signage with separations of less than 4 ft within the LASED specific plan

• 1616 S Abbot Kinney Blvd, CPC-2024-5389-DB-CU3-HCA: Approved Density Bonus with off-menu incentives, for new 7-story 69 unit project

• 18251 Roscoe Blvd, ZA-2024-7824-ZV:Approved with conditions a Use Variance to permit an approximately 3000 sf medical clinic within an existing 13000 sf commercial building in the CR Zone

• 614 Boccaccio Ave, DIR-2024-5081-CDP-MEL-HCA: Demo of an existing garage and a portion of an existing patio for a new 812 sf detached ADU located in the Venice Coastal Zone and R2-1 Zone