DEPARTMENT Of C!TY PLANNING ~ITY OF LOS ANGELE~

200 N. SPRING STREET, ROOM 525 los ANGElES, CA 90012-4801

AND 6262 VAN NUYS BLVD., SUITE 351

VAN NUYS, CA 91401

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

WILLIAM ROSCH EN PRESIDENT

REGINA M. FREER VICE-PRESIDENT

SEAN 0. BURTON DIEGO CARDOSO

GEORGE HOVAGUIMIAN JUSTIN KIM

ROBERT LESSIN BARBARA ROMERO MICHAEL K. WOO

JAMES WILLIAMS COMMISSION EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

(213) 978-1300

October 29, 2012

Los Angeles City Council c/o City Clerk's Office Attn: Ad Hoc River Committee Room 395, City Hall Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Honorable Members:

CALIFORNIA

ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA MAYOR

RIVER-RELATED PLANNING DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

EXECUTIVE OFFICES

MICHAEL]. LOGRANDE DIRECTOR

1213) 978-1271

AI. AN BELL, AICP DEPUTY I)IRf.CfOR

(213) 978-1272

EVA YUAN-MCDANIEL D(PUTY DIRECTOR

(213) 978-1273

VACANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR

(213) 978-1274

FAX: (213) 978-1275

INfORMATION

www. plann ing.ladty.o rg

The following information provides details of the Department's progress on the implementation of the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan (LARRMP):

los Angeles River Improvement Overlay District (LA-RIO) The River Improvement Overlay (RIO) and the first proposed RIO the Los Angeles River Improvement Overlay (LA-RIO) District were both approved by the City Planning Commission on February gth and recommended for Council approval at a joint PLUM/Ad­Hoc River Committee meeting on February 27th. The two ordinances are currently being reviewed by the City Attorney. Once the City Attorney's review is completed the RIO and LA-RIO will proceed to City Council. Due to the City Attorney's workload it is uncertain when the review will be completed. Copies of the draft RIO and LA-RIO are available at: http:/ /planning.lacity. org/ ordinances/

Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan A public hearing on the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan (Plan) was held by the City Planning Commission (CPC) on October 11, 2012. Following a presentation by staff approximately forty persons provided comments on the Plan to the CPC. While the majority of the speakers supported the Plan in concept many also asked that the Plan be modified. The greatest concern was expressed by community members who wish to see the Plan provide greater incentives for affordable housing while another speaker said that the Plan did not do enough to encourage market rate housing. Others asked that parking standards be modified, one person expressed concern that the Plan would lead to over development and another was concerned that the Plan would prohibit the expansion of industrial development in the area.

After listening to the concerns regarding affordable housing the CPC decided to form a sub­committee to further evaluate the Plan's incentives to encourage the development

Page 2 October 29, 2012 Ad-Hoc River Committee

affordable housing. The commission sub-committee consists of President Bill Roschen, Vice~President Regina Freer, Diego Cardoso and Robert Lessin. The CPC plans to consider the Plan again at its November 8, 2012 meeting.

A draft of the Plan and its Final Environmental Impact (FEIR) report along with the staff report are available at planning.lacity.org. Questions about the Plan or FEIR can be directed to Claire Bowin at 213-978-1213 or Claire.bowin@lacity.org.

Warner Center Regional Core Comprehensive Specific Plan The Warner Center 2035 Plan held an Open House on September 10, 2012 and a public hearing on September 18, 2012. Both the Open House and Public Hearing were attended by approximately 65-75 persons per event. The public hearing on September 18 lasted three hours and only 15 persons spoke, mostly expressing general concerns. Staff is currently working on the City Planning Commission material including the revised Ordinance (plus Sign Ordinance and Guidelines) and staff report. The City Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the Warner Center 2035 Plan on Thursday, November 29, 2012. Questions about the Plan or FEIR can be directed to Tom Glick at 818.374.5062 or tom.glick@lacity.org.

Boyle Heights New Community Plan On October 1, 2012, after a three year hiatus, the Department re~launched the effort to update the Boyle Heights Community Plan. Due to budget cutbacks in 2009 the initial community plan update effort that took place between 2006 and 2009 was put on hold but thanks to new funding resources the Department is now able to resume this work. ln order to develop a realistic work plan and timeline staff is currently reviewing the work that was previously completed and is configuring an bilingual outreach strategy. In addition to developing a new Boyle Heights Community Plan the work will also include the development of a Transportation Impact Mitigation Plan (TIMP) and an Environmental Impact Report. Questions about the Plan can be directed to either Rogelio Flores at 213.978.1180 or Rogelio.flores@lacity.org, or Haydee Urita-Lopez at 213.978.1162 or haydee.urita.lopez@lacity.org.

Northeast Riverfront Collaborative The Northeast Riverfront Collaborative is a partnership between various departments within the City and County of Los Angeles and non-profit agencies such as KCET and the Conservation Corps. The focus of the Collaborative will be to establish an identifiable riverfront district in and around the Glendale Narrows portion of the Los Angeles River (River). This effort will address issues ranging from economic development, land use and building design, to streetscape and way-finding signage with the intent of reinforcing and enhancing the unique role that the River can play in the community. The Collaborative will be underway for the next year and a half, and will be engaging local stakeholders in a series of community meetings. Due to the recent completion of the contract for this project a planner has not yet been assigned to lead this effort. Meanwhile, any questions can be directed to Craig Weber, the Senior City Planner who will be supervising the planning related components of the project, at 213.978.1168 or craig.weber@lacity.org.

Page 3 October 29, 2012 Ad-Hoc River Committee

High Speed Rail While not a City-led project, City Planning staff continue to be involved in meeting with regional and local partners to discuss the high speed rail. Over the past several years city and Metro staff (including City Planning, Transportation, Bureau of Engineering) have been effective in resolving many of the concerns about impacts of the High Speed Rail but on­going issues remain about the project's impact on the Los Angeles River and in particular its potential impact on the Army Corps' Ecological Restoration Benefit Study. Staff has met in recent months with the High Speed Rail Authority, the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Engineering's River Project Office and the Urban Waters Partnership to discuss in more detail how bridge crossings and sensitive environments may best be protected by any future construction related to the High Speed Rail project. Any questions related to Planning's involvement in this effort can be directed to Nicholas Maricich at 213. 978.1240 or Nicholas.maricich@lacity.org.

Map The attached map illustrates the variety of planning related activities that are underway along the Los Angeles River including the Warner Center Specific Plan, the NBC/Universal Specific Plan, the Northeast River Collaborative, the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan and the Boyle Heights Community Plan along with the Los Angeles River.

Sincerely,

KEN BERNSTEIN, AICP Principal City Planner Policy Planning and Historic Resources Division

Attachment: Map

c g, iii 0 m s "" 0 5l 1;;

(f) c

"' ~ c

0 ~

Legend

Boyle Heights

Northeast Los Angeles (NELA)

Universal

CASP

c:::::J Warner Center

LA-RIO Boundary

LA River & Tributaries

Ocl 2012: 051

AREA MAPPED

~~ "' ~ a.

~ E {!!. ..

0:: ~ 'g :.::J

"' "' 0 SaHcoy ~ ~ ~ ·s

3 Sherman

"' .8 n; m

~ "5 3

E ,., "

~ '0 0 .. ~ > ,.,

"' :r:

Van owen

~ V)

"' :r:

11! ~

Los Angeles River lm...,. ovement Overlay (LA-RIO)