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Planning staff briefs commission on objective design standards, ADU updates, housing progress and Craftsman's Corner annexation
Summary
Director Michael told the Planning Commission staff will reopen ARP recruitment, expects a draft of objective design standards in the coming months, will bring an annual housing-element update in March, and must update the ADU ordinance to reflect roughly 50 state law changes; staff said the Craftsman's Corner annexation goes to the LA County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 and then to LAFCO.
At the Jan. 15 meeting Director Michael (speaker 6) presented the Planning Department's priorities and upcoming items for the planning commission.
Michael said staff will reopen recruitment for two alternate positions on the Architectural Review Panel and asked commissioners to refer qualified applicants. He said the ARP helps improve project designs by reviewing architecture, landscape and site elements and forwarding recommendations to the planning commission and city council.
On objective design standards, Michael said staff and consultants are working to finish a draft that incorporates landscape standards; he expects the draft to be available in the next couple of months and will begin the public hearing process afterward. Michael said staff plans either a joint meeting or a special meeting with the ARP to conduct a final review before forwarding a recommendation to the planning commission.
Michael also said the city will present its housing-element annual progress report in March; the report documents progress toward the city's regional housing needs allocation and will be sent to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs), Michael said the city received a December letter from HCD identifying roughly 50 state law changes enacted since the city last updated its ADU ordinance (circa 2020). Staff flagged that many of the changes are technical and will require adjustments to the local ordinance but should not radically alter the city's rules; they plan to prepare technical updates as needed.
On annexation, Michael said the Craftsman's Corner tax-exchange agreement with Los Angeles County and Hidden Hills is on the LA County Board of Supervisors agenda for Feb. 10; if approved, the annexation will move into the LAFCO process with public hearings.
Michael closed by reminding commissioners the next planning commission meeting is Feb. 5 and staff will notify the commission when the objective design standards draft is posted for public review.
