Los Angeles City Council convened on December 10th to review a plan aimed at redrawing the city’s districts and facilitating the construction of over 250,000 new homes. However, some opponents argue that the proposal may not meet the requirements set by the state government.
According to reports by the City News Service, elected officials must approve a plan by the February deadline to increase more affordable housing, in compliance with the state government’s housing development obligations. In light of this, City Council members will consider the relevant regulations of the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP).
The proposed regulations aim to promote housing construction by relaxing restrictions on building height and parking for developers. Developers may also receive additional benefits for constructing housing in areas with convenient transportation, job centers, and quality schools. More incentives will be provided for 100% affordable housing projects.
Officials from the Los Angeles Housing Department stated that the anticipated growth in “high-opportunity communities” such as commercial areas or multi-family residential areas will make the city’s dense regions even more crowded.
Additionally, a separate proposal will offer protections for tenants. Low-income residents who are forced to relocate due to housing construction will be allowed to return to their previous residence at their previous rent or based on a percentage of their income. Tenants will also receive expanded relocation assistance.
City officials had considered redrawing the 72% of single-family residential zones in Los Angeles to advance the construction of new projects. However, due to opposition from homeowners, the Planning, Land Use, and Management Committee of the City Council decided not to consider this in November when the matter was brought up.
Nevertheless, there remains a possibility for this change to proceed if the City Council is willing to do so.
According to a report from the University of California, Los Angeles, the CHIP regulations will meet the state government’s housing requirements. However, researchers found that excluding single-family residential zones from the area reform “raises questions about whether the city can achieve its housing production goals and actively promote fair housing, as required by state law.”
Previously, housing officials described the proposed CHIP regulations as a “fair and climate-focused zoning approach, emphasizing greater incentives and rewards.”