Second Los Angeles City Plan

Second Los Angeles City Plan
Name	Second Los Angeles City Plan
Date	2024–2035
Location	Los Angeles, California, United States
Author	Los Angeles Department of City Planning
Status	Proposed/Adopted (varies by element)

Second Los Angeles City Plan

The Second Los Angeles City Plan is a comprehensive urban plan proposed for Los Angeles, California, in the early 2020s by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, the Mayor of Los Angeles administration, and the Los Angeles City Council. It builds on the earlier Los Angeles General Plan era policies and draws on models from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Southern California Association of Governments, and comparative frameworks used in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver. The initiative engaged stakeholders such as the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and nonprofit actors like TreePeople, LA Family Housing, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Background and Planning Context

The Plan emerged amid pressures from housing shortfalls traced to the California Housing Crisis Act, regional growth projections by the SCAG 2020 RTP/SCS, and legal precedents including the Shelter Partnerships litigation environment and the California Environmental Quality Act reinterpretations. It references demographic trends from the U.S. Census Bureau, labor projections from the California Employment Development Department, and infrastructure assessments by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the California Public Utilities Commission. Influences cited include the urban redevelopment histories of the Los Angeles River revitalization, the Hollywood Bowl and Chinatown preservation debates, and comparative policy from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and the Urban Land Institute.

Objectives and Key Policies

Primary objectives articulated include accelerating housing production consistent with the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, reshaping growth around transit nodes influenced by the Purple Line Extension, and advancing resilience strategies used in Santa Monica and Long Beach. Policy priorities marry elements of transit-oriented development favored by Metro Board of Directors, anti-displacement measures advocated by Coalition for Economic Survival, and climate adaptation approaches promoted by the California Air Resources Board and Governor of California executive directives. Equity measures reference commitments aligned with the Office of Los Angeles Mayor equity initiatives and compliance with state statutes like the Housing Element Law.

Geographic Scope and Land Use Changes

The geographic scope concentrates on corridors served by the Los Angeles Metro Rail, the Orange Line (Los Angeles Metro), and bus rapid transit corridors developed with the Federal Transit Administration, while also affecting neighborhoods such as Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, South Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, and Watts. Land use changes propose rezoning tracts in proximity to landmarks such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park, and the Harbor Freeway complex, and reference prior rezoning efforts near MacArthur Park and Little Tokyo. The Plan integrates floodplain updates tied to the Los Angeles River and conservation overlays informed by the California Coastal Commission and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Transportation and Infrastructure Proposals

Transportation proposals prioritize modal shifts around expansions like the Crenshaw/LAX Line, the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, and new bus rapid transit modeled after L.A. Metro's Orange Line. Proposals coordinate with the Los Angeles World Airports planning for Los Angeles International Airport access, freight planning with the Port of Los Angeles, and roadway reconfigurations at interchanges such as the Golden State Freeway and Harbor Freeway. Infrastructure funding strategies involve partnerships with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, and federal programs from the United States Department of Transportation.

Housing, Zoning, and Density Reforms

Housing reforms aim to implement zoning changes informed by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, state laws such as Senate Bill 9 (California 2021), and development incentives used in Transit-Oriented Communities programs. Measures include upzoning near stations in Echo Park, density increases proposed for select blocks in Westlake and East Hollywood, and preservation tools employed by Los Angeles Conservancy to protect historic districts like Olvera Street and Angelino Heights. Affordable housing delivery strategies coordinate with Los Angeles Housing Department, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, and nonprofit developers such as Mercy Housing.

Environmental and Sustainability Measures

Environmental measures integrate resilience strategies from the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, emissions reductions aligned with California Air Resources Board targets, and urban greening programs championed by TreePeople and the Los Angeles City Council Committee on Sustainability and Environment. Proposals address stormwater capture for the Los Angeles River watershed, heat island mitigation in neighborhoods including South Central Los Angeles and Watts, and energy transitions with the Department of Water and Power and state renewable mandates overseen by the California Energy Commission.

Public Consultation and Political Response

Public consultation efforts used techniques similar to outreach by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, community workshops coordinated with neighborhood councils such as the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, and advisory input from civic groups like the AARP Los Angeles and the NAACP Los Angeles Branch. Political responses have involved debates at Los Angeles City Council hearings, endorsements and critiques from mayors and councilmembers including former Eric Garcetti and others, and litigation risks highlighted by advocacy organizations including Public Counsel and LA Alliance for Human Rights.

Implementation, Funding, and Timeline

Implementation frameworks reference funding instruments from the City of Los Angeles budget, bond measures comparable to past Measure R and Measure M initiatives, federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and state funding via the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375). Timelines map short-term housing actions tied to the Housing Element Update cycles, medium-term transit projects in coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and longer-term resiliency investments aligned with regional planning by SCAG and the California Strategic Growth Council.

Category:Urban planning in Los Angeles