Merger of L.A.'s Planning Department Looking Increasingly Likely

Long rumored plans to merge L.A.'s Department of City Planning with Building and Safety to cut costs and streamline permitting are coming into focus, as the outgoing mayor tries to push through the reforms before he leaves office.

1 minute read

April 4, 2013, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Ryan Vaillancourt outline the contours of the controversial merger of L.A.'s Department of City Planning and Department of Building and Safety that is beginning to take shape as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pushes to implement the reforms prior to leaving office on July 1.

"While certain details remain unclear, the latest version of the proposed plan imagines having the Planning Department and its current director, Michael LoGrande, sit atop a new development services hierarchy, said several business leaders who have been briefed on the draft plan."

"While the proposed merger is being pushed as a bold way to improve the development system, business leaders are not yet sold on the plan," notes Vaillancourt.

"Under the latest version of the merger proposal, the last word would go to LoGrande. That’s a shift that planning experts and architects would welcome, said Will Wright, director of Government Affairs for the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles."

“Long-range planning and community planning and creating a vision for the future should be the priority,” Wright said. “If all they’re doing is entitling projects and expediting projects and reacting to the way developers are moving forward, we don’t have a system that encourages smart development.”

Wednesday, April 3, 2013 in Los Angeles Downtown News

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.