State officials officially approved the city’s housing plan, which was initially rejected for not doing enough to enhance housing equity.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has officially approved the revised Los Angeles housing element, known as the Plan to House L.A., which the state rejected in February “after determining the plan did not include sufficient strategies for ‘affirmatively furthering fair housing.’”
As reported by Steven Sharp in Urbanize LA, “The revisions which allowed for L.A.'s plan to achieve state certification supplement updated zoning with new strategies prioritizing projects in high opportunity areas, enabling the redevelopment of public-facility zoned land, expanding community benefits programs, incentivizing the construction of accessory dwelling units, and assistance programs for lower-income homebuyers.” With the plan officially endorsed by the state, “Local planners will now be tasked with implementing zone changes to accommodate the construction of 255,000 new homes citywide in the near-term future.”
As Sharp explains, “HCD's initial rejection of the L.A. housing element carried potentially grave consequences, jeopardizing the city's ability to pursue state grants.” Now, thanks to legislation passed earlier this week, the city has until 2024 to implement the zone changes outlined in their new plan.
FULL STORY: State officials bless L.A.'s updated housing element
L.A.'s Housing Element, Considered Among California's Most Ambitious, Rejected by State Regulators
The California Housing Department gave credit to Los Angeles for targeting so much growth before telling the city it needed to do more.
L.A.'s New Housing Element Calls for 456,000 New Homes
The newly updated Housing Element of the city of Los Angeles General Plan makes an ambitious commitment to housing construction—after decades of slow construction and a population out of scale with the city's housing stock.
Lawsuit Uses Environmental Law to Challenge the Housing Element of L.A.'s General Plan
The city of Los Angeles in November wrapped up an update to a new Housing Element, as required by state law. A lawsuit will use a different state law to challenge the validity of the city's housing goals.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.
Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.
Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont