Proposed Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) Ordinance, Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance, & Resident Protections Ordinance

The Housing Element Rezoning Program aims to address Los Angeles’ significant housing needs, provide greater housing access, and meet state housing obligations through three proposed ordinances. The proposed CHIP Ordinance, Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance, and Resident Protections Ordinance would amend Chapter 1 and Chapter 1A of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC), including revising Sections 12.03, 12.09.1, 12.10, 12.10.5, 12.11, 12.11.5, 12.12, 12.12.2., 12.13, 12.13.5, 12.14, 12.16, 12.17, 12.17.1, 12.21, 12.22, 12.24, 13.09, 13.15, 14.00, 14.5.4, 16.05, 19.01, 19.14, 19.18, and 151.28 and adding Sections 16.60, 16.61 and 16.70 of Chapter 1 and revising Articles 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, and 14 of Chapter 1A.

The Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) Ordinance enables streamlined project review procedures and introduces new incentives for eligible project types in order to expand access to affordable housing near transit, jobs, along corridors, and in higher opportunity areas. The Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance implements various state Housing Element law requirements that apply to three different categories of sites identified throughout the Housing Element process. The ordinance also extends the requirement for minimum densities on Lower Income Rezoning Sites citywide in all R3, RAS3, R4, RAS4, R5, CR, C1, C1.5, C2, C4, C5, CM as well as RD1.5 and RD2 zones in certain areas. The Resident Protections Ordinance enhances and builds upon current regulations concerning tenant protections, affordability term durations, and the size, location and amenities for affordable housing units; and would apply to all development projects that include affordable housing or result in the demolition of housing.

The Ordinances were analyzed in Housing Element Environmental Impact Report No. ENV-2020-6762-EIR (SCH No. 2021010130) certified on November 29, 2021, Addendum No. 1 (ENV-2020-6762-EIR-ADD1) certified on June 14, 2022, and Addendum No. 2 (ENV-2020-6762-EIR-ADD2), no subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report is required.

An information session and live Q+A will take place on Thursday July 25, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A public hearing will follow at 6:30 p.m. and provide a formal opportunity for the public to provide comments on the proposed actions. No decisions will be made during the public hearing. Participants may join the information session and staff level public hearing online or by phone to offer testimony.

Written Comments
In lieu of attending the Public Hearing, comments may be submitted by email to housingelement@lacity.org or hardcopy at the address below through Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Please include case number CPC-2023-7068-CA for CHIP Ordinance correspondence, CPC-2024-387-CA for Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance correspondence, and CPC-2024-388-CA for Resident Protections and Minimum Density Ordinance correspondence.

Date and Time
Thursday, July 25, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Agenda
5:00-6:30 p.m.: Program Presentation and Live Q+A
6:30-8:00 p.m.: Virtual Public Hearing

Register to Join Zoom Webinar
https://planning-lacity-org.zoom.us/j/81102298373
Webinar ID: 811-0229-8373
Password: no password needed

Dial by phone
+1 669 900 9128 or
+1 213 338 8477 US
Webinar ID: 811-0229-8373

Receive Future Updates
To join the Interested Parties list for the Citywide Housing Incentive Program Ordinance, Housing Element Sites and Minimum Density Ordinance, and Resident Protections Ordinance, and to receive future updates, please email housingelement@lacity.org.

Next Steps
After the public hearing, a written recommendation report will be prepared by Los Angeles City Planning for consideration by the City Planning Commission (CPC). The recommendation report will be accessible through the CPC meeting agenda. The proposed ordinances require final approval and adoption by the City Council. The Housing Element Rezoning Program draft ordinances will be considered by the CPC at a meeting conducted in a hybrid format with time for in-person or virtual public comment on September 26, 2024 after 8:30 a.m.

To submit questions, comments, or to be placed on the interested parties list, please contact City Planning staff.

Staff Contact
Theadora Trindle, City Planner
200 North Spring Street, Room 750
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 564-7099
housingelement@lacity.org

Accommodations
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability. To request a reasonable accommodation, such as sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, translation or interpretation, please contact Theadora Trindle at housingelement@lacity.org or (213-564-7099) a minimum of three days (72 hours) prior to the public hearing. Be sure to identify the language you need English to be translated into and indicate if the request is for oral interpretation or written translation services. If translation of a written document is requested, please include the document to be translated as an attachment to your email.

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
If you challenge a City action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence on these matters delivered to the Department before the action on this matter. Any written correspondence delivered to the Department before the action on this matter will become a part of the administrative record.

Notice to Land Use Industry Professionals
If you are compensated to interact with the Department of Planning, City law may require you to register as a lobbyist and report your activity. Any individual may qualify as a lobbyist, regardless of occupation, education, training, or professional title. A lobbyist may hold a position that includes but is not limited to attorney, CEO, consultant, architect, engineer, government liaison, business owner, permit applicant, urban planner, expediter, land developer, various real estate specialists, and others.

More information is available on the Ethics Commission’s lobbying page and Influencing Land Use Decisions brochure. For assistance, please contact the Ethics Commission at (213) 978-1960 or ethics.commission@lacity.org

Visit planning4la.org/hearings for general information about public hearings and the exhaustion of administrative remedies.