The Coalition to Preserve L.A. has announced it will postpone the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, a proposed ballot initiative that would have deep ramifications or planning in Los Angeles, until March 2017. The coalition also revised the original 26-page initiative to eight pages. The coalition is concerned that the initiate would get lost among the 20 or so measures on the November citywide ballot. Campaign director Jill Stewart explained: "Our initiative is too important to be buried at the tail-end of this November's ballot, which is beginning to look like it will be." The group is particularly concerned about what it describes as "mega-projects" that do not conform to community plans are out of character with surrounding neighborhoods. The initiative would prohibit the City Council from approving general plan amendments for specific projects, commonly known as "spot zoning," for a two-year period and requires the city to update its General Plan. The new version removes some constraints on the general plan update process. The initiative requires 61,000 valid signatures to get on the ballot. (See prior CP&DR coverage.)
L.A. Metro Seeks Ballot Measure to Fund $120 Billion in Projects
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority released a $120-plus billion spending plan for a potential sales tax initiative on the countywide ballot in November. The plan devotes funds to pedestrian and cycling projects, commuter rail, transit operations and programs, as well as money for local cities for their own projects. The measure is a follow-up to 2008's Measure R, which added a half-cent to countywide sales tax and has already funded numerous transportation projects. Among dozes of proposed projects large and small, a few major proposed public transit projects include accelerated development of an extension of the Purple Line subway to Westwood, a rail tunnel under the Sepulveda Pass, light-rail between Artesia and South Gate, 710 South improving congestion, an added lane on the 5 freeway in Santa Clarita, extensions to the Green Line to Torrance, extension of Eastside Gold Line to Whittier, and a transit hub at LAX. Highway projects include expanded HOV connectors across the county, purchase of land for the proposed High Desert Corridor, The measure would ask voters to increase countywide sales tax by half-cent for 40 years; it requires a two-thirds majority. Click here for the full staff report and list of proposed projects.
San Francisco Moves Towards New Traffic Metrics
San Francisco Planning Commission voted, 6-0, to adopt a resolution to proceed with vehicle miles traveled (VMT) metrics as provided by SB 372 for all CEQA determinations in the city. The move reduces the city's reliance on level-of-service (LOS) metrics that, according to SB 372, do not promote the state's environmental goals. In a statement, Director of Planning John Rahaim told the San Francisco Chronicle, "Vehicle miles traveled is a much smarter approach to identifying the direct environmental effects of car use. It will streamline CEQA review for projects that are designed to encourage public transit, promote pedestrian safety and help reduce the need for traveling long distances by car." The city is hoping this will promote policies and programs that encourage infill development and transportation projects. San Francisco is the first large city in California to adopt these new guidelines to measure traffic differently. (See prior CP&DR coverage.)
Group Sues Over Alleged Coastal Act Violations
A Venic Beach-based eneighborhood group has filed a civil complaint lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles for destroying the community, violating California Constitution and the CA Coastal Act, and local land use protections, according to the suit. Venice Coalition to Preserve Unique Community Character (VC-PUCC) contends that the city planners have approved countless large construction projects that have, according to VC-PUCC, "destroyed character, density, and charm of Venice neighborhoods; blocked airflow and sunlight; destroyed vegetation; obstructed picturesque views; and eliminated affordable housing units in this fragile and unique coastal zone." The group claims it is most alarmed by the "Venice Sign Off" procedure that has allowed developers to construct without notifying neighbors or holding public hearings and the hundreds of illegal Coastal Act exemptions. The group is seeking an injunction that would prevent the city from approving additional exemptions to coastal-area zoning restrictions and prevent administrative sign-offs.
Huntington Beach Rejects Affordable Housing Plan
The Huntington Beach City Council rejected a plan last week, on a 7-0 vote, to increase the city's supply of high-density and low-income housing. The vote, promoted by anti-development protests, comes even though the city is out of compliance with its Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation. The Department of Housing and Community Development notified the city in June that it was 400 units below the low-income housing requirement by the state and therefore will have certain state funding withheld. In May, the City Council stopped plans for a 4,500-unit development and dropped the number to 2,100 total and lowered the low-and very-low income housing from 783 units to 123. The vote last week was on an alternative plan. The deadline for the city to present a viable RHNA plan is September.
Study Shows Synergy between Transit, Ride Hailing Services
A recent study by the Transit Cooperative Research Program looked at traveling habits of 4,500 people in seven cities nationwide, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, and found people that use ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber are more likely to use public transportation. Of those that use the services, 50 percent say they use a train frequently, and 45 percent use buses. Communities are being transformed and people are owning fewer cars and choosing to use alternative modes of transportation. The study's backers say that the study confirms that ride sharing complements public transit. Emily Castor, Director of Transportation Policy for Lyft said in a statement, "Transit is the backbone of urban mobility�..these findings prove that Lyft and transit combined reduce the need for car ownership, which will lead to more livable, sustainable cities."
Los Angeles May Pass Costs of Sidewalk Repair on to Property Owners
In an effort to conform with a lawsuit agreement to fix the city's sidewalks, the Los Angeles City Council, two Los Angeles City Council committees have proposed a "fix and release" plan whereby the city could pay for initial repairs and gradually transfers responsibility to property owners if damage is related to street trees. City officials have blamed the state of its sidewalks on this old rule, as lack of repairs increased with worsened government funding. The proposal is part of a $1.3 billion effort to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.. The new plan has met with protests over fears that costs might be passed on to cash-strapped residents. Debate over responsibility for sidewalk repair centers on a city law that requires the city to pay for damage related to street trees; state law stipulates that landlords are responsible.
Developer Must Pay $1 Million for Habitat Degredation
Bay Area developer Wildlife Management has pleaded guilty to a criminal violation of the Endangered Species Act and must pay $1 million to conservation funds and preserve 107 acres of land for $3 million. The company polluted a pond that supported the threatened California tiger salamander and forged documents to hide their actions. After sediment runoff from a construction site in Dublin entered a pond, Tong submitted forged documents in March 2012 stating they had purchased $3.2 million in credits from the Ohlone Preserve Conservation Bank to offset the pollution. James Tong, principal of Wildlife Management, must spend four months in home detention and perform one-hundred hours of community service.
Oakland Approves Controversial High Rise
Ending a particularly bitter development battle in Oakland, the City Council voted, 6-1, last week to approve a controversial high-rise project with UrbanCore to be built on surplus city land. The 360-unit project, including one-third affordable units, is expected to generate $45 million in property tax and $21 million in business tax revenue. Chanting the slogan, "No segregated housing on public land," protestors claim it is another "luxury development that includes a token amount of affordable housing in a segregated, separate building."
Coast Range Conservancy Proposed
State Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) and Assembly-member Bill Dodd (D-Napa) introduced SB 1396 to establish a state conservancy to protect, preserve and restore the Northern Inner Coast Range by creating the Inner Coast Range Conservancy. The ten existing conservancies coordinate project implementation for state allocations, bond funds and other grant opportunities. Lake County Supervisor Jim Steele said: "A state conservancy for our region can provide fairness and equity in our region in providing critical and necessary outside funding for important projects such as for Clear Lake's water quality and ecosystem." The bill will be heard in committee in early April.
