Almost 100 community members attended the ZIP housing workshop presented by the long range planning division of the community development department.
Michelle Montenegro , associate planner for the City of West Hollywood explained the workshop to me prior to the meeting start.
“This community workshop starts at 6:00pm, and for the first 30 minutes people are able to go to the boards and talk to the staff one on one and have on the ground conversations. At 6:35 we are going to start the presentation with background info and context on the actual project. Then we will go through a neighborhood exercise. The exercise is to create collaboration, to have dialog back and forth. We understand that everyone does not have the same opinion.”
How does this relate to the Builder’s Remedy?
Builder’s Remedy occurs when a housing element is not compliant. Our housing element is compliant now. – But it wasn’t before. So the Builder’s Remedy cases that existed back then are able to carry through but there is no new ones.
So is the ZIP, zoning improvement program, the next step? The new state laws apply?
Yes, the new state laws apply. Builder’s remedy is one state law among many hundreds. There are several state laws that allow mixed use to happen, ministerial use, certain sub-division of small lots to happen. There is a new state bill that is very active right now called SB79, which is the one I think your referring to. It’s around areas that are considered transit-oriented stops. They are able to go up to 75 feet or 65 feet based on their proximately to the transit stop.
And that doesn’t have anything to do with the ZIP ?
No. The thing is if SB79 passes there is provisions in there that allow a jurisdiction to do its own alternative plan. So, it can not go with the allowances, the 65 feet height, the 75 feet height. It allows the city to come up with its own plan that are different from those allowances.
So this workshop is to further our local goals so we don’t have to follow the state laws mandates? We can have our own independent plan?
Yes, Yes, it could be, its not for sure.
But we can propose alternative ideas so we don’t have to follow the state mandate? Would that be a fair statement?
I would say we are trying to work within the framework of what’s required, so we are trying to be state compliant. And this allows us to do that, so we can do an alternative plan if it does pass, and that we are legally able to.
So then we are all set?
I wouldn’t say we are all set, its a lot of process.
Ahead of the curve incorporating community input?
I would say the timing is serendipitous because if 79 passes I think jurisdictions would probably scramble to get alternative plans on the books to comply in their own way. But we are already in process of a zoning improvement plan.
Upon the conclusion of Montenegro’s presentation to the public she received a loud round of applause. Her presentation was clear, direct, and without bluster.
Following the presentation community members gathered in groups to identify types of housing that belongs on various lots sizes. Each table had one staff member working with attendees to gather input. Color coded maps identified potential ramifications of changes in housing policy.
Staff will present their findings to the Planning Commission and City Council on a future agenda.
