Around the Corner

You think LA takes too long to build? Try San Francisco.
SF Mayor Lurie just rolled out a new PermitSF package to slash outdated rules and speed development. Highlights include:

• Ending the ban on parking in private driveways (which once led to $1,500 tickets)

• Streamlined ADU permitting, lower fees on big projects, and flexibility with historic buildings

• Easier approvals for solar panels, rooftop batteries, and restaurant remodels

• Cutting mandatory pre-meetings for large developments

• Prioritizing cases revised multiple times

The Week Ahead

Sep 9 | LA Planning & Land Use Mgmt Committee

• 15134 S Vermont Ave, CPC-2017-1014-CU-ZAA-SPR-1A: Construction of a one-story, 53-ft tall, 340,298 sf warehouse / manufacturing / high-cube / warehouse / distribution center, including a 25,000 sf mezzanine and up to 40,000 sf of incidental office uses. Decision on appeals filed by Advocates for the Environment and Friends of the Air, Earth, and Water on determination approving a CUP or a Major Development Project which creates 250,000 sf or more of warehouse floor area and dismissing as not necessary, a CUP for a Commercial Corner Development in the M Zone to allow:

  • a) 24-hour operations, in lieu of the otherwise permitted hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and

  • b) The exterior walls and doors of the ground floor fronting adjacent streets to consist of a minimum of 10 percent transparent windows, in lieu of the otherwise required minimum 50 percent;

  • c) allow for a max building height of 53 ft, in lieu of 45 ft in the M2-1VL-O Zone; and,

  • d) approving a Site Plan Review for a development which results in an increase of 50,000 gross sf or more of non-residential floor area

• 16610 Ventura Blvd, CPC-2023-3134-DB-SPP-HCA-1A: Decision on Appeal filed by Encino Property Owners Association from the determination of the LACPC in approving a Project Permit Compliance Review pursuant to Section 9 of the Ventura/Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan for the demolition and removal of all existing structures, and construction of a new 45,960-sf mixed-use development comprised of 45 residential units (8 VLI) and 3,400 sf of commercial floor area with a maximum FAR of 2.3:1.

• 5416 Carlton Way, CPC-2024-914-DB-SPPC-VHCA-1A: Decision on appeals filed by SAFER and the Carlton Serrano Tenants Association on the determination to approve a Specific Plan Project Compliance to allow the demolition of seven existing residential buildings and accessory uses, including a 16-unit apartment building, a four-unit apartment building, three single family dwellings, a detached garage, and a duplex building. Proposed construction of eight-story, 131-unit residential building (15 VLI) and the maintenance of an existing two-story, eight-unit residential building, for a total of 139 units, within Subarea A of the Vermont/Western Transit Oriented District Station Neighborhood Area Plan (SNAP) Specific Plan.

• 4693 Hollywood Blvd, DIR-2019-6738-SPPA-SPP-TOC-SPR-HCA-M1-1A: Decision on appeal filed by SAFER from the LACPC’s determination in approving a Categorical Exemption as the environmental clearance for the demolition of the two commercial structures, a surface parking lot, and a billboard; and the construction of a seven-story, 126,770 sf, 139-unit mixed-use building (16 ELI) and providing 104 residential parking spaces and 41 commercial parking spaces

Sep 10 | LA City Council

• Recommendations from Motion (Lee - Jurado) to:

  • 1) INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to report to Council on the feasibility, potential benefits, and possible drawbacks of the City establishing its own Continuum of Care, independent of the County of Los Angeles (County).

  • 2) INSTRUCT the LAHDC Investment for Families Department to report to Council on the structure of federal grants issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and to assess how the City could remain competitive in securing funding under that structure if it were to operate its own Continuum of Care independent of the County.

• 5416 Carlton Way, CPC-2024-914-DB-SPPC-VHCA-1A: Same project as above at PLUM

• Decisions on LA28 Impact and Sustainability Plan for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  • REQUEST LA28 to make all procurement opportunities available on the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMP)

  • REQUEST LA28 to work with the Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA) on producing quarterly reports on procurement submittals/ engagement

  • INSTRUCT the BCA and Economic and Workforce Development Department to develop a work plan to conduct outreach workshops, and to assist local vendors with applying to procurement opportunities on RAMP; and, REQUEST both City departments to work with LA28 to fund community contracts for the Worksource and Business Source Centers to case-manage business enrollment into the RAMP system for the LA28 procurement process participation

  • DIRECT the CAO, in coordination with LA28, to report to Council on the feasibility of creating a fund that LA28, partners, and business stakeholders can contribute into if they are unable to meet the local and small business procurement goals. The fund should support small and micro businesses in the City

  • DIRECT the BCA, in consultation with LA28, labor unions, worker centers and other worker representatives on best practices to ensure worker protections are included in contracts with LA28 contractors, and provide recommendations for worker protections that can be included in the contracting process.

Sep 11 | LA City Planning Commission

• 10777 North Winnetka Ave, CPC-2023-1263-ZC-ZAA-HCA: A Zone Change from A1-1 to A2-1 for the subdivision of one 11.38-acre parcel into five lots ranging in size from 2.0 to 3.25 acres each. The Project retains the existing home and all existing accessory structures on proposed Parcel 2. The Project also includes a Zoning Administrator’s Adjustment to allow an existing accessory structure to remain in place, 42.8 ft from the new front lot line of proposed Parcel 2 in lieu of 55 ft required

• 16600 – 16002 West Vanowen St, CPC-2024-574-CU3-ZV-PR-F-WDI: Construction of a new two-story, 33 ft in height, 56,366 sf public charter school with a maximum enrollment of 564 students (Grades 6-12) on two vacant, adjoining lots totaling approximately 108,938 sf (2.5 acres). The project includes 27 classrooms, administrative office space, a 1,753 sfMultipurpose Room (MPR), 16,738 sf gymnasium, and a 14,363 sf play yard area. The Applicant is proposing to provide 91 automobile parking spaces, 111 bicycle parking spaces (108 short-term and three long-term), 400 square feet of loading space, 25,253 square feet of landscaping, and 47,473 square feet of hardscape.

• 12759 and 12761 West Caswell Ave, CPC-2024-8031-DB-CU3-HCA: Demolition of two single-family houses and an accessory structure for the construction of a new six-story residential building with 16 dwelling units (2 VLI) and floor area of 19,130 sf and a building height of 67 ft. The Project will also provide 20 vehicular parking spaces and 18 bicycle spaces.

• 6727 West Melrose Ave, CPC-2024-2365-DB-WDI-VHCA: Demolition of the existing commercial building and the construction of a new, six story, mixed-use development consisting of 32 dwelling units (4 VLI), 605 sf of commercial space, and one level of subterranean parking providing 23 parking spaces. The building will have a total height of approximately 72 ft and two inches, a total floor area of approximately 28,717 sf and a FAR of 4.06:1. The Project includes a 3,280 sf roof deck with open space and amenities. The Project is expected to export approximately 3,128 cy of soil for excavation.

Sep 11 | LA South Valley Area Planning Commission

• 15120 Keswick St, 7654, 7658 North Burnet Ave, 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-feet of a school, A, or R zone.

• 21140 North Nofral Rd, ZA-2021-10333-ZAD-1A: Construction, use and maintenance of a 1,678 sf, two story, single-family dwelling that includes a 380 square foot, two-car detached garage, an 800 sf ADU and a 204 square trellis and patio space

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 

• 5114 Avenida Hacienda, DIR-2025-4759-ADJ: Parcel map to subdivide 38,763.0 sf lot into two new 17,543.65 (Parcel A) and 21,235.64 (Parcel B) sf lots in the RA-1 Zone and an adjustment to permit a substandard lot width on Parcel A

• 2727 W 6Th St, ZA-2025-4962-CU1-CU2-PR: Demolition of commercial office space and construction of self-storage

• 7222 Owensmouth Ave, DIR-2025-5035-AH-DB-CDO-VHCA-RED1: 100% RED1 project containing 70 units

• 536 S Bronson Ave, ADM-2025-5012-CWC: Pursuant to 13B.8.4.E and 13B.8.4.E.1 of the LAMC, Conforming Work on a Contributing Element in the Windsor Square HPOZ, for alterations to fenestration to correct code enforcement conditions

• 1320 W Lilac Ter, ZA-2025-5007-CUB: A CUB for the sale and dispensing of a full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site sale in conjunction with a new restaurant called The Ravine Club in Silver Lake - Echo Park- Elysian

• 9213 Tobias Ave, PAR-2025-4985-AHRF: New 5-story 64-units (6 VLI) and (5 MI) mixed-use affordable housing project with 5-levels of Type III-A apartments using AHI- Density Bonus 12.22.A.37 Menu of Incentives in Mission Hills - Panorama City - North Hills

• 616 Haverford Ave, ADM-2025-4988-CCB: Fire rebuild and detached ADU in Brentwood - Pacific Palisades (Approved)

• 1204 Tellem Dr, ADM-2025-4966-CEX: Addition of new spa entirely within existing pool shell in private residence. No grading.

Santa Monica

• 1723 Cloverfield Blvd, 25ENT-0176: SB 330 application for a new multi-family residential housing project consisting of an eight story with 330 residential units (including 33 affordable units) and three-levels of below grade subterranean parking (357 parking spaces)

• 1399 Olympic Blvd, 25ARB-0189: ARB review for a new 8-story mixed-use building composed of 222 residential units using a 50% Density Bonus and 25 affordable units. Mixed-use building with 9,982 sf of commercial space. Also refer to 25ENT-0178.

• 745 17Th St, 25ENT-0177: SB 330 application for a 4-story multi-family residential building with a total of 24 residential units (4 affordable deed restricted units) utilizing State Density Bonus Law-SDBL (AB 1287)

Highlighted Completions

City of LA

• 13530 W Moorpark St, TT-84517-CC: Approved with conditions a Tentative Tract map for the Condominium Conversion of 6 units with 8 existing parking spaces

• 1005 E Washington Blvd, ADM-2025-5010-WTF: Approved demo of existing 60' telecommunications tower and remove all telecommunications equipment from existing equipment room that will remain

• 12140 Victory Blvd, ADM-2025-4995-RDP: Cleared demolition of existing commercial building

• 13037 Dickens St, ADM-2025-4914-CLR: Administrative closure for new two story SFD with attached two car garage and new detached pool cabana I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is running over