Summary

Planning and Land Use Management meeting summary

Los AngelesJan 13, 20263 min read

At a glance

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The committee approved instructions to amend the Venice Land Use Plan to allow commercial uses on industrially designated land; approved transferring certain zoning plan-check responsibilities from the Department of Building and Safety to the Department of City Planning and asked the City Attorney to draft ordinances; advanced amendments to the Ventura-Cahuenga Specific Plan; approved supplemental actions for a West Los Angeles housing-element zone and height change (with environmental clearances); received a report on Van Nuys Airport outreach; approved an ordinance pathway to exempt certain 2028 Olympic projects from zoning requirements (with CAO cost‑recovery review); and continued historic‑monument and cold‑storage items to January 27, 2026.

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Planning and Land Use Management Committee

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TransportationCommerceEnvironmentalHousing

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What this means

Committee decisions direct staff to change rules and processes that affect how projects are reviewed and where uses are allowed. The Department of City Planning will take on more routine zoning plan checks, which is intended to streamline review; the Venice Land Use Plan will be amended so commercial businesses can be explicitly allowed on land now designated industrial; and a zone and height change for parts of West Los Angeles was advanced with environmental review, which may allow slightly more residential floor area on some single‑family lots. Several matters (a historic‑monument nomination and a cold‑storage project appeal) were continued for later hearings, and the City will seek ordinances and cost reports before sending some changes to full City Council.

Key decisions

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Adopted motion to instruct the Department of City Planning, with the City Attorney and California Coastal Commission consultation, to prepare an ordinance amending the Certified Venice Land Use Plan to clarify that commercial uses are permitted on industrially designated land.
Approved as amended the LA City Planning Commission report to transfer certain zoning plan‑check responsibilities from the Department of Building and Safety to the Department of City Planning; requested the City Attorney prepare and present draft ordinances.
Adopted motion directing the Department of City Planning and the City Attorney to report within 30 days analyzing the application of AB 2011, AB 2243, and AB 893 to the Woodland Hills Country Club project and similar commercial corridors.
Received and filed the Department of City Planning report evaluating the Processes and Procedures Ordinance and transparency efforts.
Approved as amended the City Attorney report and draft ordinance to amend the Ventura‑Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan to streamline sign and interior tenant improvements review and update the Review Board; requested clarification on mural sign conversions before Council scheduling.
Approved the supplemental Department of City Planning report and attached draft ordinance for Zone Change and Height District Change in West Los Angeles (R1-1-O to R1V2-O) with environmental clearances and findings.
Received and filed the Los Angeles World Airports report on Van Nuys Airport Vision Study community engagement; requested LAWA continue coordination with Council and DCP on the Specific Plan and related MOU/scope of work.
Continued the Rowley Residence historic‑cultural monument nomination (8436 West Hillrose Street) to January 27, 2026.
Continued the appeal and related actions for the cold storage facility project (1420–1542 North Alameda St. and North Coil Ave.) to January 27, 2026.
Approved the Los Angeles City Planning Commission report to add an exemption for certain 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games projects from zoning requirements; requested the City Attorney prepare a draft ordinance and instructed the City Administrative Officer to report on staff cost‑recovery and any fiscal impacts.

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