Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an executive directive that has banned City Planning Commissions from meeting or communicating privately with real estate developers whose plans they are vetting. Executive Directive 19 is designed to help help L.A. build the transportation infrastructure and affordable housing that voters funded through Measure M and Proposition HHH last fall. The directive reforms the city’s planning process by directing the Department of City Planning to develop a specific program and timeline for updating all 35 of the City’s Community Plans — a process that will take place within six years. The directive also bans certain types of ex parte communications between developers and government officials. The directive was partially inspired by the debate over Measure S, which was defeated two days prior to the signing of the directive. Yes on S campaign director Jill Stewart said the ban was too limited and that “backroom meetings” could happen before a developer formally files an application.
LAO Report Underscores Shortage of Housing Approvals
The Legislative Analysis Office released a report, “Do Communities Adequately Plan for Housing?” contending in no uncertain terms that California cities are not planning for or approving enough housing to meet the state’s population demands. The report finds that many communities- particularly coastal- limit construction of new homes, which has driven up costs. Communities’ decisions about housing can limit home building such as their long-term land use plans and implementations through zoning or creating onerous processes for approval of new housing developments. The LAO looked at relationships between overall general plans, housing elements, and Regional Housing Needs Allocations, finding that housing elements fall short of their goals by having zoning rules out of sync with the types of projects developers would like to construct. Changing this mindset of coastal communities to allow more home development will be difficult. The report echo a series of reports published by the department of Housing and Community Development last year that were also critical of cities’ housing production.
Fresno to Become More Pedestrian-Friendly
The Fresno City Council unanimously adopted a plan to improve and expand the city’s network of sidewalks, trails and bicycle lanes, and paths. The new Active Transportation Plan envisions the expansion of the city’s 491 miles of bike lanes to nearly 1,440 miles. The plan also sets forth a strategy to identify areas that have no sidewalks, and other improvements for pedestrians. A newly created rubric assigns points to projects based on the following criteria: access and equity (20 points), connectivity (30 points), traffic control, mode shift, and user comfort (35 points), and feasibly and engineering considerations (15 points). The plan is divided into near-term priorities to be built over the next 5-10 years and long-term needs over the next 30-50 years. To qualify for transportation grants from the state and Fresno County’s Measure C, an adopted plan is required.
Analysis Reveals Concentration of Housing Near Freeways in L.A.
A Los Angeles Times analysis of U.S. Census data, building permits, and other government records show that thousands of new homes have been approved within 1,000 feet of a freeway even though they advise developers that this distance poses health concerns, including cancer risks. In 2015, the city issued building permits for 4,300 homes near freeways. More than 1.2 million people live in high-pollution zones within 500 feet of a Southern California freeway. One City Councilmember, José Huizar, who lives several hundred feet from I-5, wants to establish buffer zones for limiting development around freeways. Others, including Mayor Eric Garcetti, are wary of any prohibitions on housing development, since buffer zones could end up covering 10 percent of the city’s residentially zoned land.
Fontana Updates 30-Year-Old Plan for Warehousing
The Fontana City Council approved, 5-0, the Westgate Specific Plan which includes 946 acres in North Fontana near the 15 and 210 freeways slated for development by Intex Corp. The broad plan was approved for the area, but the developer must take each project to the city for separate project-by-project discussion and approval. The plan allows 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space and 3,751 residential units for 15,000 residents. It replaces a 1996 plan that called for 4 million square feet of warehouses and is intended to provide a more “balanced” mix of development. However, major criticisms revolve around affordable housing, particularly for seniors.
AHSC Guidelines Available for Comment
The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is accepting public comments on the 2016-17 Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program Guidelines. The Air Resources Board is also receiving comments on the AHSC GHG Quantification Methodology for FY 2016-17. The final program guidelines and accompanying GHG quantification methodology are expected to be considered for adoption at the June 1 SGC meeting. AHSC staff will hold workshops on this draft in early April.
