Measure PL

City of Los Angeles City Planning Department Charter Amendment

Measure PL would amend the City Charter to establish a Neighborhood Appeals Commission to replace Area Planning Commissions and establish a process for City Council review of Neighborhood Appeals Commission and City Planning Commission decisions; change the timing and process for City Council action on certain planning decisions; grant the Planning Department the authority to investigate, hear, and determine applications for quasi-judicial review; and allow for changes to floor area regulations by ordinance.

This measure requires approval by a majority of voters voting on the measure to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Measure PL will reduce annual administrative costs for commission staffing and resources by $360,000 from $1.1 million to $740,000.

Next Los Angeles County Measure: Measure EE

See Endorsements for Measure PL
Background

The City governs planning and land use through the Charter (City’s constitution) and ordinances (City laws). The Charter is the foundational document that establishes the powers and duties of key decision-makers, which include the City Planning Department, City Planning Commission, Area Planning Commissions, Director of Planning, Office of Zoning Administration, the City Council and the Mayor. The Charter also establishes the processes and appeal rights for certain land use entitlements including General Plan Amendments, zone changes, variances, conditional use permits and similar quasi-judicial approvals.

Proposal

If approved, Measure PL would change the City’s planning and land use management. The measure would specify in the City Charter (Charter) the authorities and duties of the City Planning Department and Director of Planning, while concurrently modifying the authority of City Council to review planning and land use matters and replacing the seven Area Planning Commissions with a single new Neighborhood Appeals Commission.

It would, among other things:

  • Replace the seven Area Planning Commissions (APCs) and their 35 Commissioners with a single, new Neighborhood Appeals Commission (NAC) with at least seven members, subject to qualification requirements concerning geographic or other representation to be defined by ordinance, and grant the NAC the power to hear administrative appeals and consider those appeals anew and without deference to earlier decisionmakers.
  • Specify in the Charter the responsibilities of the City Planning Department and Director of Planning by amending the Charter’s section on the Office of Zoning Administration to grant the Department authority over quasi-judicial applications and the Director of Planning authority to appoint staff beyond the Office of Zoning Administration to perform the duties of quasi-judicial review, as authorized by ordinance.
  • Remove Charter sections that establish the processes and appeal rights for certain land use entitlements including General Plan Amendments, zone changes, variances, conditional use permits and similar quasi-judicial approvals, and delegation of legislative authority, thereby authorizing such matters to be governed by ordinance.

Source: Los Angeles City Voter Pamphlet 

Los Angeles County Election Resources

Los Angeles City Election Resources