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City and CRA approve first amendment to Chinatown redevelopment plan, ordinance set for second reading
Summary
The Community Redevelopment Agency and Los Angeles City Council voted to approve responses to objections and adopt resolutions advancing the proposed first amendment to the Chinatown redevelopment plan; the ordinance will return for a second reading because fewer than 12 council members were present.
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Los Angeles City Council approved the CRA's resolutions and the council adopted resolutions responding to objections and advancing the proposed first amendment to the Chinatown Redevelopment Plan on Wednesday.
The amendment would increase the plan's tax-increment cap from $57 million to $230 million and extend dates for establishing debt and receipt of tax increment to complete the original Chinatown program, agency staff told the council. Agency deputy administrator Richard Benbow summarized the planning record and said an outside fiscal consultant concluded the amendment is financially feasible.
Why it matters: CRA staff and community supporters said the amendment is intended to leverage additional private investment and finish projects already started in Chinatown, including housing rehabilitation, commercial rehabilitation, streetscape and public improvements, and cultural facilities near the light-rail station. County officials objected, saying the amendment risks reducing county revenues and urging a smaller increment increase and greater focus on residential projects.
Agency and county exchange: Robert Moran, representing the County of Los Angeles chief administrative officer, told the council the county submitted written objections claiming the plan did not adequately define remaining blight, showed an insufficient nexus between proposed projects and blight reduction, lacked a feasible financing plan and needed a subsequent environmental impact report. He asked the agencies to reduce the proposed increment increase and shift emphasis to residential projects.
Agency counsel and outside counsel responded that the record documents remaining blight, that redevelopment law treats the redevelopment project as a single project and that an addendum to the existing environmental impact report found no substantial change requiring a subsequent EIR. Murray Kane, representing the agency, also said the agency will continue to meet payment obligations to the county under the existing agreement.
Votes and outcome: The CRA board adopted two resolutions certifying the environmental analysis and approving the amendment; the CRA then transmitted the actions to the council. The City Council adopted three resolutions related to the amendment and agreed to receive the city's share of tax increment reimbursements. The council approved the resolutions by roll call (11 ayes). Because fewer than 12 council members were present for the ordinance vote, the ordinance itself was carried over for second reading and final adoption at a later meeting.
Context and community voice: Agency staff said the Chinatown Community Advisory Committee held more than 100 meetings over a decade and provided letters of support; representatives of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Chinatown Business Improvement District and other local groups spoke in favor of the amendment. Some residents and observers at the hearing expressed concern about how tax increment would be used and urged clearer financial information.
Next steps: The ordinance implementing the plan amendment will return for a second reading and a council vote when enough members are present. Agency staff said they will continue to follow the agreement with the county on distributions and to work on implementation tools including acquisition funds, rehabilitation, incentives and public improvements.
