PLEASE VOICE YOUR OPINION RE: LONG OVERDUE MC MANSION ORDINANCE
On Tuesday 12-11-07 the
California ("B") Section the LA Times had a very good article on the proposed
McMansion ordinance, including an insightful quote from our very own
Councilman, Jack Weiss. By insightful, we mean it gives us great insight into
what is going on in Jack's mind.
We have included a letter from President of the Planning Commission, Jane
Usher requesting that constituents send letters voicing our opinions on this
matter and attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, December 18th at 2:00
p.m. to offer support to the planning commission on this important issue. If
you would like to send letters to your city council members, a sample letter
and addresses follow. We have also included some background information, and
links to the LA Times article and a Channel 7 News report.
Thank for your time and interest in maintaining the quality of our
neighborhood.
LETTER FROM JANE USHER
Dear Community Leaders
--
This past June, the
City Planning Commission forwarded an anti-mansionization ordinance to the
City Council. Our goal was to DO Real Planning. We were led by an
unprecedented coalition of homeowners, environmentalists, architects,
affordable housing advocates, and civic groups. Inexplicably, our effort has
stalled for 6 months at PLUM. If you still believe that this City should take
a balanced first step against grossly oversized homes, please read on and
circulate this email.
Jane Usher, President,
Los Angeles City Planning Commission
******************************************
Urgent Need For
Action on Mansionization Ordinance
What: Please
attend the PLUM Committee meeting at 2 PM on December 18 in City Hall. There
is no similarly effective tool quite like your showing up. In addition, you
may wish to contact the City Council in advance to express your views.
Why: The
December 18 meeting of the PLUM Committee will mark the third time that
this body has heard the Mansionization Ordinance. Currently, the City does not
regulate oversized homes that disproportionately impact their neighborhoods
and the environment. The proposed Ordinance curtails gross overbuilding while
it allows homes of more generous size than are permitted by similar
measures in surrounding cities. Work on the proposed Ordinance was sponsored
by Councilman Tom LaBonge, and seconded by Councilmembers Ed Reyes, Wendy Greuel,
Janice Hahn, Bill Rosendahl, Eric Garcetti, and Herb Wesson. The measure was
drafted and recommended by City Planning on June 14. The Council has yet to
see this work.
PLUM History:
-
At the July 24 PLUM
meeting, the Planning Department and the City Attorney’s office were directed
to review the proposed Ordinance. In addition, Councilman Jack Weiss
directed Planning to offer two changes: a menu of ways for a community to opt
out of the Ordinance and a suggestion concerning enclosed porches.
-
On October 18 the City
Attorney’s office released the formal version of the proposed Ordinance. The
house size limitations were essentially unchanged. There was no change in the
porch provision.
-
On November 20 the
Planning Department again appeared before PLUM with a menu of ways for a
community to opt out of the Ordinance. Councilman Weiss again asked for an
expanded menu, and asked Planning to provide an economic analysis of the
effects of the proposed ordinance. No funding is offered for the economic
analysis, which would require months of study, and, according to an expert in
the field, can be anticipated to find a positive effect on property values.
-
Still another PLUM
meeting is scheduled for December 18. Councilman Weiss has spoken publicly in
favor of neighborhood-by-neighborhood regulations, rather than a citywide
rule. The bureaucracy and time that this new approach envisions is,
unfortunately, endless. None of us will live to tell the tale.
Action: The
most common criticism of the criticism of the Ordinance is that it is too
modest. Indeed, it is not tailored to protect individual neighborhood
character, which must come via overlay zones, specific plans, and community
plan updates. However, while we fiddle, construction continues on houses
that are out of scale for our neighborhoods, that invade the privacy of their
neighbors, that overuse scarce resources, and that place home ownership
further out of reach for the next generation, including our children. Please:
1. Attend and
get others to attend the PLUM hearing on December 18. Submit a speaker card.
Please remember that your presence at City hearings is only recorded if you
submit a speaker card; this is always true. Whether you favor or oppose the
proposal, ask that the item be forward to the full Council.
2. As individuals and
organizations, call, e-mail, and write to the PLUM Committee
(Councilmen Reyes, Weiss, and Huizar), strongly urging that the Mansionization
Ordinance move forward to the full City Council. Copy Council President
Garcetti and your own Councilmember.
Thank you for your
attention to this matter. It seems important to end government inaction.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mansionization
Status
The Proposed Baseline Ordinance
was arrived at as a result of very extensive input and compromise by
homeowners groups, architects, developers, and City personnel. It was passed
by the City Planning Commission on June 14th
and sent to the City Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM)
with the expectation that it would quickly be brought to the full City Council
for discussion and implementation. In the 6 months since then, Council
consideration of the proposed ordinance has been delayed by action of the
PLUM. It is well past time for the proposed ordinance to be forwarded to the
full City Council.
To review the history:
- At the
July 24th
PLUM meeting, the Planning Department and the City Attorney’s office were
directed to coordinate a review of the proposed ordinance. In addition,
Councilman Weiss directed the Planning Department to review two provisions: a
menu of ways for a community to opt out of the baseline ordinance and a
suggestion concerning enclosed porches.
- On
October 18th
the City Attorney’s office released the formal version of the proposed
ordinance. The house size limitations (the subject of essentially all the
conflict to date) were unchanged. There was no change in the porch provision.
- On
November 20th
the Planning Department again appeared before the PLUM with a menu of ways for
a community to opt out of the baseline ordinance. Councilman Weiss again
asked for an expanded menu, and asked the Planning Department to provide an
economic analysis of the effects of the proposed ordinance. Such an economic
analysis, to have any merit, would be expensive, require many months of study
by an organization specializing in that area, and, according to an expert in
the field, would probably show a positive effect.
- Still
another PLUM meeting is scheduled for December 18th.
There is little question of the
urgent need for action on the proposed ordinance. Construction is ongoing
throughout the City on houses that are out of scale for our neighborhoods and
that invade the privacy of their neighbors. It is time to end PLUM review of
the matter and bring the matter to the consideration of the full City Council.
Call, e-mail, and write Councilmen Reyes, Weiss, and Huizar strongly urging
them to expedite forwarding of the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance to the
full City Council.
abc7 link
Dear Councilman xxx
We have been
anxiously awaiting the anti-mansionization ordinance for over 18 months,
ever since the Council motion by Councilman LaBonge in June 2006. We
understand that it took time for public input from the various stakeholders,
but an acceptable compromise Baseline Mansionization Ordinance was passed by
the Planning Commission and sent to the PLUM on June 14th. It's been six
months and the proposed ordinance still has not been forwarded to the full
City Council. Compromise home sizes for each zone were established by
extensive interactions of the various stakeholders, there is a menu of ways
for a community to modify the baseline provisions and the City Attorney has
released the formal version of the proposed ordinance.
It is time to forward
the proposed ordinance to the full City Council for action. We ask that you
do so at your December 18th meeting.
Very truly yours,
XXXCX
Here is the contact
information for the three PLUM members:
Councilman Ed Reyes
City Hall Office
200 N. Spring Street,
Rm 410
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7001
Councilman Jack Weiss
City Hall Office
200 N. Spring Street,
Rm 440
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7005
Councilman José
Huizar
City Hall Office
200 N. Spring Street,
Rm 465
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7014
Jane Ellison Usher
President of the LA
City Planning Commision
Please remember that all correspondences must include your home address.