L.A.'s New Planning Framework Starts Now

After the defeat of Measure S, Los Angeles Planning Director Vince Bertoni explains how a slew of new planning reforms will help move the city forward.

2 minute read

April 2, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By Elana Eden


The momentum on planning reform in Los Angeles has come to a head, and now—between an accelerated program for community plan updates, a new mayoral task force on city planning, and new incentives for transit-oriented and affordable development—the Planning Department is humming with activity.

In an exclusive interview with The Planning Report, Planning Director Vince Bertoni  shares how he anticipates these reforms will help shape the city’s future.

Bertoni envisions a comprehensive new General Plan for Los Angeles that combines strategies for smart growth, mobility, and economic vitality. Noting that opposition to density is largely motivated by concern over traffic, he explains, "If we're going to accommodate change and growth, we're going to have to get around the city in a different way."

This approach is grounded in experience: Bertoni joined the city in early 2016 after directing planning and community development in Pasadena, where he led a widely praised General Plan Update that included a shift from Level of Service to Vehicle Miles Traveled.

Pasadena's plan was also notable for its extensive community outreach and consensus-building efforts, promoting a climate of interest and confidence in the plans. As a result, while Los Angeles grants 90 percent of plan amendment requests, Bertoni says:

In the five years I was planning director of Pasadena, we had a lot of development—that was five years of economic expansion, and a lot of projects went through the process. And I don’t recall ever once amending the General Plan, a specific plan, or the zoning code to accommodate a project.

More from Bertoni in The Planning Report.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 in The Planning Report

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

5 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

6 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

7 hours ago - Bloomberg