The City of West Hollywood is responding to growing concerns about its Zoning Improvement Program (ZIP), saying the plan is being misunderstood and remains in its early stages. Residents, meanwhile, say they’re still uneasy about what the project could mean for homeowners, tenants, and the city’s character.
In an email to WEHOonline, Director of Planning and Development Services, Nick Maricich and Long-Range Planning Manager, Francisco Contreras explained that ZIP is a “planning and feasibility” study, not a rezoning proposal. They said the program is intended to explore how West Hollywood’s existing zoning might evolve to meet state housing requirements under the City’s certified 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021–2029).
The City wants to emphasize that no recommendations for zoning changes have been made, and that any possible adjustments would require environmental review, public hearings, and direction from City Council which is not likely until 2026.
A lot of residents still remain skeptical with some believing the ZIP framework could still lead to widespread change under the guise of a “study,” saying every neighborhood in WeHo could potentially be affected if building standards shift.
Seven Stories or Just a Study?
City officials said claims that ZIP would allow seven-story buildings in single-family areas are inaccurate. They explained that “the modeling exercises used during community workshops were illustrative only, intended to help residents visualize different housing types rather than define specific height or density standards.”
The City pushed back on fears that ZIP is a developer giveaway. Officials said, “No, ZIP is part of the City’s state-mandated Housing Element implementation. It is being designed to balance housing needs with neighborhood livability and to include anti-displacement and affordability strategies. The City is studying economic feasibility to ensure that any future zoning tools yield viable, inclusive, and equitable development outcomes, rather than speculative or ‘free-for-all’ projects.” They also noted that ZIP will include anti-displacement measures and will continue to enforce the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the state’s “no net loss” rule, which requires the replacement of rent-stabilized or affordable units if they are removed.
Transparency and Timing
Some residents say the City hasn’t been transparent enough about ZIP’s goals and assumptions. In its email to WEHOonline, the City said more than 350 residents took part in Phase 1 outreach through workshops, surveys, and focus groups, and that the results are publicly available here.
They also clarified that the 3,933-unit figure often cited represents West Hollywood’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) target for 2021–2029, not a three-year growth plan. “ZIP’s role is to evaluate long-term housing capacity,” the City said, “not dictate construction schedules.”
At its core, ZIP highlights the tension between meeting state housing goals and preserving the scale of a city built on smaller lots and historic streetscapes. City staff say ZIP is “an ongoing, community-informed effort grounded in technical analysis and broad participation.”
Critics fear it could become a blueprint for development that erodes neighborhood character. The City’s analysis and public feedback to date emphasize directing most new growth to commercial corridors and areas near transit, not within existing lower-density neighborhoods.
TriWest business owner Robert Stelloff said the community’s position is not anti-housing, it’s about smart planning. “Most if not all citizens believe ‘Affordable Housing’ is required, a great thing, and an absolute must, we all do,” Stelloff said. “However, reckless & irrational development with absolute consequential punitive damage to the community & neighborhoods is not the answer.”
He added, “Responsible quality architectural infills & development can be achieved to meet the required RHNA targets as set forth by the CA Dept. of Housing. This cannot and should not be a free-for-all for all developers, none of who live in the city & share the same common values or concerns. Concrete guardrails need to be implemented, that’s all.”
The City’s website says “input from community members, developers, and other stakeholders engaged in housing and community development work will be vital in guiding priorities for zoning changes,” and encourages residents to participate by attending upcoming community workshops.
Both sides (and this guy right here) can definitely agree on one thing — it’s complicated. If you live or work in WeHo, my best advice is to take some time to read the materials at Engage.WeHo.org/ZIP, then show up to at least one of the next two community meetings — one of which is a town hall with city officials — RSVP here. Ask questions, and make sure your voice is heard while there’s still time to help shape what happens next.
The next neighborhood-organized meetings on ZIP will take place on Wednesday, November 12, and Monday, December 9, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the West Hollywood Aquatic & Recreation Center, 8750 El Tovar Place. Both will be held outdoors, so attendees should dress warmly. The December 9 session will feature Mayor Chelsea Byers, Planning Director Nick Maricich, and Assistant Director of Community Development Jennifer Alkire, who will take your questions and outline ZIP’s next phase.
With so many holes in the ground and unfinished construction projects along SMB and Sunset, the city council needs to be very careful to not destroy historic neighborhoods forever. Please limit any new zoning to true transit routes (not “within a half mile” which is all of WeHo) and please listen to your constituents. We all want to work with you. Please.
-“directing most new growth to commercial corridors and areas near transit, not within existing lower-density neighborhoods.”- ALL our neighborhoods are close up to commercial areas. And that “most” is triggering. We don’t want to be the south side of Wilshire in the Miracle mile.
Robert Stelloff Is 💯% spot on! We all understand the need for more housing. Our commercial corridors such as Santa Monica Blvd. are mostly one and two-story buildings. They can allow for 15 stories or more along the commercial corridors to provide more housing opportunities. They don’t need to destroy our historic neighborhoods to meet their housing goals.
If the bureaucratic bungling known as the Fountain Avenue Streetscape Project taught us anything, it’s that residents must push back early and hard lest “studies” become realities.
If weho doesn’t order studies, what will it do with all those millions of dollars?
Don’t collect what is not needed. Municipalities need to be put on funding diets. Bureaucrats and elected officials typically have zero experience in the need to spend responsibly since their revenue sources (taxes) seem to be unlimited. Those of us with real P&L responsibilities see things in a much more realistic light.