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City News, LADBS, Planning

Planning Releases Implementation Memo re AB2097 parking relief

One of the most significant statewide laws that took effect on Jan. 1 is AB2097, which prohibits cities from imposing automobile parking restrictions on any residential, commercial or other development project within 0.5 miles of a “major transit stop” (as defined by state law).  Typically, it takes Los Angeles several weeks into the new year […]

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City News, LADBS

LA City Offices Remain Mostly Closed Nearly 3 Years After Pandemic Start

It’s a new year but Los Angeles city offices remain closed to the public for nearly all services, including project meetings, public counter questions, and public hearings. Offices were closed in March 2020 by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti and have only partially reopened to just a few, select services. Meanwhile, offices in most other cities in […]

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City News, LADBS

CPC delays hearing for Wildlife Ordinance 1 month

Last week’s City Planning Commission hearing of the highly controversial draft Wildlife Ordinance lasted about 5 minutes. The CPC voted unanimously to postpone the hearing one month to its regularly scheduled Dec. 8 hearing. The draft ordinance has pitted neighbor vs. neighbor in the city’s Hillside areas where the Wildlife zoning overlay would be enacted […]

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City News, LADBS

State also loosens the rules for by-right ADUs

Governor Newsom also signed into law Assembly Bill 2221 and its sister bill, Senate Bill 897, which expands and clarifies some regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Once these laws take effect on Jan. 1, permitting agencies will be required to approve or deny (in writing) an ADU application within 60 days. Also, new detached ADUs can be […]

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City News, LADBS

Are you ready for a project in Los Angeles without parking?

In the flurry of bills signed last month by Governor Newson was a potential game-changer for Los Angeles, long known as the Car Capital of the World. AB2097 requires cities to approve projects without imposing a minimum number of parking spaces as long as the project is located within 0.5 miles of “public transit” (as […]

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City News, Planning

LA Unveils Updated Draft Wildlife Ordinance

Newest version appears less restrictive than initial draft ordinance; enactment (if approved) still 6+ months away An updated version of the draft Wildlife Ordinance was released late Friday by the Department of City Planning, along with a “save the date” notice for its first hearing before the City Planning Commission later this year. The new […]

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City News, LADBS, PCCLA

State of LA

Record number of projects, less staff, still mostly inaccessible Los Angeles has seen a record number of permit and entitlement requests even as staffing levels at development-related departments has been reduced and the remaining staff continues to largely be inaccessible, according to an analysis of annual reports and budget requests recently released by city departments. […]

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City News, LADBS, PCCLA

AWA+D SB9 Presentation Video

PCC Principal Project Manager Amy Studarus recently presented to the members of the Association for Women in Architecture + Design a highly informative workshop about SB9, the new state law that allows for up to 4 dwelling units on lots zoned for single-family homes. The presentation was one of the most highly attended Zoom seminars […]

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City News, LADBS

City Re-Opens Metro DSC … sort-of

The Los Angeles departments of Building & Safety and Planning recently re-opened to the public, but operations and services remain very limited and several other critical departments to development services remain closed to the public. First, the good news. LADBS and City Planning re-opened their doors at the city’s downtown Metro Development Services Center on […]

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City News, Planning

City issues guidelines to turn 1 lot into 4 DUs

The Los Angeles development community has been eagerly awaiting the release of guidelines from the city that explain how the city will process applications for SB9, the ground-breaking state law that allows some residential property owners to subdivide their property into as many as 4 dwelling units. Last week, PCC reported that City Planning had […]

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