Introduction to Los Angeles Pilots Streamlined Permitting
This was a week to stay on top of the headlines if you’re a Los Angeles developer. On Friday, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued an emergency executive order aimed at accelerating rebuilding in the Pacific Palisades by doing away with permit and plan check fees on homes destroyed or damaged by January’s wildfires. Suspending the fees is still contingent on the City Council approving an amendment on the matter, which Council member Traci Park introduced earlier this year.
Rebuilding in the Pacific Palisades
Friday’s move came a few days after Bass announced executive actions addressing the Palisades’ rebuild during her State of the City address. One order allows homeowners working with qualified architects the chance to self-certify their plans, thereby bypassing plan checks. Buildings will still have to be inspected, but the city views this as a way of alleviating at least one bottleneck. Additionally, artificial intelligence will now be used by staff when checking that plans are in compliance with building and zoning codes in the Palisades.
Streamlining Permitting Process
If the initiatives are successful, they could be rolled out citywide, Bass said. As of Friday, the city of Los Angeles reported 23 permits for 16 addresses issued in the Palisades. The use of artificial intelligence in plan checks and the self-certification of plans by qualified architects are significant steps towards streamlining the permitting process.
Four LA Projects to Know
Sprucing up Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics and next year’s FIFA World Cup was also on this week’s State of the City agenda. “We want people not just to see our stadiums,” Bass said during the annual address. “We want them to see the real L.A.” To that end, Bass highlighted four key projects to know:
- Mixed-use Rams Village at Warner Center in the San Fernando Valley.
- Destination Crenshaw public art and open space initiative running alongside a portion of the Metro Rail line on Crenshaw Boulevard.
- Massive infrastructure projects to improve terminals and get a 2.25-mile Automated People Mover train running at Los Angeles International Airport.
- Making over the Los Angeles Convention Center to compete with other facilities around the state and country to attract meetings and events.
Resi Beat Notes
Salespeople are upbeat on Los Angeles’ luxury condo market and the numbers cut through marketing speak to support the growth storyline. Luxury condo sales in the city spiked 59 percent year over year in the first quarter to $5.7 million, according to a report from Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants for Douglas Elliman. Meanwhile, The Agency finished selling off the last of the condos in the 59-unit Four Seasons Private Residences in Beverly Grove as the market makes way for the ultra-luxe Aman Beverly Hills project in 2027.
Measure ULA Blamed for Permit Paralysis
Real estate agents and brokers have been talking up the negative impacts of Measure ULA on deals and development since voters approved it in 2022. New stats from a UCLA report offer further support on the argument. The UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies found that permits pulled for new multifamily projects dropped 18 percent in the first year since the ballot measure was approved. That’s 1,910 less units coming online in projects of 20 apartments or more, according to the report.
Proposed Bill Looks to Limit CEQA
California lawmakers are considering a bill that aims to offer some developers relief from completing an environmental impact report. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), Heath Flora (R-Ripon), Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-La Palma) and Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) authored Assembly Bill 609. It was introduced in February and aims to do away with EIRs for housing developments as large as 20 acres in Census Bureau-designed urban areas.
Conclusion
The efforts by the city of Los Angeles to streamline the permitting process, especially in the wake of the Pacific Palisades wildfires, demonstrate a commitment to rebuilding and development. By leveraging technology, such as artificial intelligence, and introducing measures like self-certification, the city aims to reduce bottlenecks and accelerate growth. However, challenges such as the impact of Measure ULA on multifamily projects and the need for environmental impact reports continue to pose hurdles for developers.
FAQs
- Q: What is the main goal of the emergency executive order issued by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass?
A: The main goal is to accelerate rebuilding in the Pacific Palisades by streamlining the permitting process. - Q: How does the self-certification of plans by qualified architects contribute to streamlining the permitting process?
A: Self-certification allows homeowners working with qualified architects to bypass plan checks, thereby reducing a significant bottleneck in the process. - Q: What are the four key projects highlighted by Mayor Bass in her State of the City address?
A: The projects include the Rams Village at Warner Center, Destination Crenshaw, improvements at Los Angeles International Airport, and the makeover of the Los Angeles Convention Center. - Q: How has Measure ULA affected multifamily project permits in Los Angeles?
A: According to a UCLA report, permits for new multifamily projects dropped 18 percent in the first year since Measure ULA was approved, resulting in 1,910 fewer units coming online. - Q: What is the purpose of Assembly Bill 609 introduced by California lawmakers?
A: The bill aims to do away with environmental impact reports for housing developments as large as 20 acres in urban areas, offering relief to some developers.
