Are you new to land use and planning issues; or do you want to expand your knowledge about the planning and development process in your neighborhood? This session will introduce stakeholders to the basics of land use and planning and provide a context for that knowledge. The Framework and Planning tools from the general plan to overlay zones and districts and important State and regional laws that affect the local planning process will be briefly described. Participants will get a general idea of how planning and zoning work, by-right versus discretionary development, conditional use permits, the hearing process and “findings,” and the planning appeals process. You will be provided the context to discuss land use issues with others, take steps to having your concerns heard and know how to go about tracking and reviewing projects in your neighborhood, community and city. You will also learn why it can be important to consider land use proposals before a case is filed, and why everyone should care about issues such as “code simplification” and “development reform.” Finally, you will leave the program with ways you can learn more and get help, including PlanCheckNC.

1. 1 Land Use and Planning Committee
2
3 Manual of Operations
4 MISSION STATEMENT (draft):
5
6To advise the (..your council name..) Council and stakeholders about land use projects in or
7around (..your area..) that will impact the quality of life of residents, business owners and
8stakeholders.
9
10To advise the (…your council name..) Council on planning issues and projects affecting the
11Venice community.
12
13To make recommendations to the (…your council name..) Council’s Board of Officers
14regarding any exceptions, modifications and variances to the Community Plan and/or
15Specific Plan for the planning and construction of projects in (..your area..) to forward to the
16Los Angeles City government entities which shall include but not be limited to City Planning
17Department, City Building & Safety and City Public Works as deemed necessary.
18
19 Introduction
20All neighborhood council land use and planning committees have two focii:
21 1. Reactive
22 2. Proactive.
23Reactive to the permit applications for planning variances sent to all Certified Neighborhood
24 Councils (CNC) by LA City Planning Department Early Notification System listing all
25 permit applications processed by planning department.
26Proactive to needs within the community, other than formal permit requests, that must be
27 brought before the NC governing Board, City Councilmember and the community.
28
29GOALS and OBJECTIVES:
30
31 1. To review (…your NC name..) land use and planning issues, take public input,
32 report on and make recommendations of action to the (..your name…)
33 Neighborhood Council’s Board of Officers in a timely manner on land use and
34 planning issues affecting the Venice community.
35
36 2. To render every land use and planning issue reviewed by COMMITTEE
37 transparent to all constituents.
38
39 3. To measure development projects against specific plan and community plan.
40
41 4. To provide a public forum for stakeholders to hear development projects and
42 voice their support or concerns.
43
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2. 44NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATION POLICY and PROCEDURES:
45
46Prior to an applicant appearing before COMMITTEE, applicant shall convene a meeting of
47neighbors, residential and commercial, within 1,000 feet of the project to present the project,
48describe the expected future of the project, take public comment and keep a sign-in sheet of
49attendance to be presented to COMMITTEE. Copy of notification flyer/letter and radius
50labels to be provided to COMMITTEE at applicant’s meeting with COMMITTEE.
51
52 EXAMPLE: Neighborhood Notification Policy and Letter To Be emailed to
53 Applicant(s)
54
55DATE:
56
57SUBJECT: (..your council name..) Council’s Land Use and Planning Committee
58 Neighborhood Notification Policy.
59
60REFERENCE: (…..List applicants name, address and case number and brief
61 description of project as per the CNC listing and/or permit
62 application….)
63
64Dear Madam/Sir:
65
66The Land Use and Planning Committee (COMMITTEE) of the (…your council name…) the
67first panel to hear any planning issue that involves a variance to our Specific Plan and/or
68Community Plan
69
70Our Mission Statement is: (….state Mission Statement….)
71
72My name is (………), I am the COMMITTEE member assigned to your project. Please contact
73me as soon as you set up your neighborhood notification procedures. Contact me at (…list
74phone and email….).
75
76COMMITTEE Neighborhood Notification Policy requests that a meeting of the immediate
77neighbors to your project be held sponsored by you, the applicant, to inform your neighbors
78of your impending project. We have found that a more informal neighborhood meeting to
79address any problems your neighbors might have with your project is best prior to coming
80before COMMITTEE in a more formal setting.
81
82Set date, time and place for your neighborhood meeting. It could be your project space, a
83community room at the Library, or the local church.
84
85Distribute notices/flyers to all residents within (..state 500’ or 1,000’ or just abutting
86depending on project) either by hand or USPO mailing carefully stating date, time and hours
87for this meeting. Email copy of your notice to VNC Board and committees at: (…list
88everybody that should get this notice…) COMMITTEE needs to have a list of the names &
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3. 89addresses of your radius mailing or hand distribution; or a receipt from the company you
90hire to do the notifying if you do so.
91
92Keep a sign up sheet at the neighborhood meeting asking for name, address, email address
93and columns for support or disapproval for your project. Keep the signup sheets for the
94COMMITTEE meeting.
95
96Your project will be on the next available COMMITTEE agenda. At that meeting
97COMMITTEE will expect you to have nine (9) copies of your project documents – including
98but not limited to: permit application packet, site plans, findings, City Planning staff report
99(if done); and documentation of your neighborhood meeting including sign-up sheets and
100radius mailing labels if notices were mailed.
101
102Sincerely,
103_______________, COMMITTEE Staff to your project
104
105
106 Land Use & Planning Committee STAFF REPORT
LETTERHEAD
107
108Case Number:
109
110Address of Project:
111SYNOPSIS: (..brief description of project for non-land use literate NC board
112members..)
113
114COMMITTEE MOTION:
115Regarding Case # (..list case number, ALL suffex, applicant’s name & address..):
116 WHEREAS: List one reason for COMMITTEE recommendation
117 WHEREAS; List another reason for COMMITTEE recommendation
118 BE IT RESOLVED: List COMMITTEE recommendation for board action
119 and COMMITTEE vote. (for-against-abstaining 0-0-0 )
120
121Size of Parcel: (according to ZIMAS)
122 (according to permit application)
123Size of Project: (according to ZIMAS)
124 (according to permit application)
125Parking, on site, off site, leased
126 or by covenant and where:
127Assessed Land Value: (according to ZIMAS)
128Last Owner Change: (according to ZIMAS)
129Project Description: (from permit application)
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4. 130(..name area..) Subarea:
131Zone:
132Date of Planning Report:
133Date of End of Appeal Period:
134City Planning Report Prepared by: (city planning staff person)
135COMMITTEE Staff:
136Applicant:
137Address:
138Representative:
139Contact Information:
140Date(s) heard by COMMITTEE:
141Zoning Administration Date:
142Applicant’s Neighborhood
143 Mtg:
144WLA Area Planning
145 Commission Dates:
146ARGUMENTS FOR THIS PROJECT:
147ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS PROJECT:
148SYNOPSIS OF PUBLIC COMMENT:
149FINDINGS: (findings as found by COMMITTEE staff research may include city planning staff
150investigator’s report.
151
152Attached conditions including but not limited to the following;
153Alcohol – if indicated – standard COMMITTEE conditions
154Regular business – standard COMMITTEE conditions
155Hours per rest of businesses on the street – take average or use means
156BASIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (if applicable)
157
158DRAFT LETTER FOR PRESIDENT TO SIGN AND SEND TO PLANNING DEPARTMENT,
159CD11, APPLICANT, and Others.
160
161
162
163LETTERHEAD HERE
164
165Date:
166
167
168Los Angeles City Planning Department
169200 North Spring Street
170Los Angeles, California 90012-2601
171
172Case Number:
173Address of Project:
174Applicant:
175Description of Project:
176
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5. 177Dear Madam/Sir:
178
179This will advise that at a regularly held public meeting of the Venice Neighborhood Council’s
180Board of Officers on (..date here..) it was moved and passed by a vote of (…vote..) that the
181Venice Neighborhood Council recommends (..supporting or denying..) referenced planning
182case.
183
184Please provide a copy of the decision letter to the Venice Neighborhood Council at the letterhead
185address.
186
187Thank you for your attention to this matter.
188
189Sincerely,
190(..name of…) Council
191
192
193
194_____________, President
195
196CC: Applicant
197 City Councilmember, and planning staff
198 Secretary of (…council name…)
199 Chair of (…council name..) COMMITTEE
200
201
202 LETTERHEAD HERE
203 COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT (SAMPLE)
204
205Username:
206Password:
207
208
209 To: Office of the City Clerk
210 Los Angeles City Hall
211 200 N. Spring St., Rm 360
212 Los Angeles,. CA 90012
213
214 Re: Council File Number:
215 Planning Case Number:
216 Dept of Building & Safety Case Number:
217
218DATE here
219BODY OF CIS
220(…list the BE IT RESOLVED part of COMMITTEE motion..)
221
222Sincerely,
223Body of letter – take language from board motion.
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6. 224_________________, President, (..your council name..) Council
225CC: patrice.lattimore@lacity.org; For input to City Council
226 Applicant
227 City Councilmember, and planning staff
228 Secretary of (…council name…)
229 Chair of (…council name..) COMMITTEE
230
231
232
233NOTE: This is just part of a 3-hour presentation
on Land Use and
234Planning Committees within the Neighborhood Council system.
235
236Contact:
237Challis.Macpherson@verizon.net,or go to the PlanCheckNC website
238www.plancheckncla.com, to request this free workshop.
239
240BE SURE TO CLEARLY PRINT NAME, EMAIL AND NC
241AFFIALIATION ON SIGN-IN SHEETS TO GET UPDATE
242INFORMATION.
243
244
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