Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez says public lots throughout L.A. ‘can be and should be (for) affordable housing.’
L.A. City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez listens to a public comment during a meeting at City Hall on Jan. 10, 2023. In an effort to get more permanent affordable housing units built, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, Nov.
1, signaled its interest in lifting restrictions on public and city-owned land so that higher-density housing developments can be built where they’re currently not permitted. In a 14-0 vote, the council instructed the city’s planning department to draft an ordinance to remove current zoning and density restrictions that limit how much housing can be built in “public facilities zones” and on city-owned land in cases where most of a site would be used for “civic purposes and publicly owned permanent affordable housing,” according toMost city properties fall under a land-use zone known as “public facilities.” As it stands, permanent housing built in PF zones can’t exceed the zoning densities of nearby zones – that is, “properties abutting, across the street or alley from, or having a common corner with, the subject property,” according to the motion. By lifting the restriction, the city could build more permanent affordable housing units than currently permitted on land that it owns — without seeking waivers or exceptions. The idea is to build on unused or underutilized city properties in areas where greater housing density may be appropriate, such as along commercial corridors or in neighborhoods that already have a mix of development – but not“There are vacant and underutilized public lots all over the city where we can be, and should be, building affordable housing,” the councilmember said in a statement. “We’re not talking about transforming entire neighborhoods – we’re simply looking to cut the red tape that has led us into Soto-Martínez introduced the motion along with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson in September. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Heather Hutt. Currently, building at a higher density than the land is zoned for requires waivers, housing density bonuses or other approvals. “That is something that requires extra hearings, extra steps, extra paperwork,” said Nick Barnes-Batista, spokesperson for Soto-Martínez. By eliminating some of the red tape, he said, a developer could shave up to six months off a project’s timeline.Jeff Kalban, chair of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee and a board member of United Neighbors, a coalition of neighborhoods, said he supports making it easier to build more affordable housing in parts of town where higher density is appropriate, as long as it’s done with “smart” planning. He said he would withhold further judgment on Wednesday’s City Council action until an ordinance is drafted, so he can see how such a policy would be implemented. “Conceptually, it’s absolutely the right thing to do,” Kalban said about the approved motion. “You want to build on city property and try to get affordable housing in there.” Kalban said there are numerous city-owned vacant properties throughout L.A. and suggested that some near schools could be converted into“In resolving this crisis,” ACT-LA said, “we must approach the problem from all angles, including strategic opportunities for the development of new, deeply affordable housing.”3 students injured at Van Nuys High School; 3 students detained by policeUnited Airlines flight attendants want Dodgers questioned about racial bias claimsA vast new Porter Ranch park is given a popular name. Then it’s taken awayOwner of Southern California sober living homes sentenced to 2 years for fraudFormer A’s executive asks MLB owners to reject Las Vegas moveStudents mourn teen, 16, killed in crash near high school
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