4 Ideas for Overhauling the Los Angeles Department of City Planning

A tradition as old as the Planning Department itself: proposing reforms to the planning and development approvals process in the city of Los Angeles.

1 minute read

September 8, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Los Angeles Little Tokyo

Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock

"With a brusing [sic] battle over high-density developments on the horizon, the Los Angeles City Council is looking to take steps toward amending its convoluted and often controversial planning process," reports Steven Sharp.

The proposed changes stem from a May report by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning (PDF) to the Los Angeles City Council. The report focuses on four categories of action: 1) a system for updating community plans, 2) batching general plan amendments, 3) changes to contracting with consultants that assist with the preparation of Environmental Impact Reports, and 4) a status update on the overhaul of the Planning Department's technology infrastructure.

Sharp reviews each of these issue sin more detail as the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee prepared to review the recommendations earlier this week.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 in Urbanize LA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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