Friday, April 17, 2015
A deal is a deal, right? Not necessarily. Los Angeles has a long, if
complicated, tradition of imposing conditions on proposed developments in
exchange for stakeholder support. Conditions, which include everything from
height restrictions to parking requirements to aesthetic improvements, are a
key part of negotiations between developers, community members, and public
officials. But stakeholders in L.A. are increasingly concerned that the city
lacks the means to enforce conditions. Westside Councilmember Mike Bonin
has called for the Department of City Planning to devise ways to ensure that
developers uphold the commitments they make to City Hall in return for
permission to build. Can and should the City change the ways it enforces
conditions of approval? Is this truly a problem, or just another issue raised
by NIMBYs? Would these changes add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the
already complex development process? How can we impose reasonable
conditions, ensure accountability, and promote better projects and happier
communities at the same time?
Panelists
Councilmember Mike Bonin, Los Angeles Council District 11
Sharon Commins, Co-Chair, Los Angeles Zoning Advisory Committee
Benjamin M. Reznik, Esq., Chairman of the Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
Councilmember Mike Bonin, Los Angeles Council District 11
Sharon Commins, Co-Chair, Los Angeles Zoning Advisory Committee
Benjamin M. Reznik, Esq., Chairman of the Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
Moderator
Kevin Keller, Director of Planning and Housing Policy, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
Kevin Keller, Director of Planning and Housing Policy, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
