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Committee adopts technical amendments and places low‑rise ordinance on consent; advocates hail new flexibility for affordable units
Summary
The committee adopted technical amendments to a low‑rise ordinance (item 10) to allow form‑based density and an at‑grade parking option in certain conditions, with numerous housing advocates and legal services groups supporting the measure as a means to increase feasible modest affordability.
The Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved consent language amending the low‑rise ordinance to direct the Planning Department to prepare and present a code amendment that preserves the ordinance’s substance while allowing additional technical flexibility, including an at‑grade parking option in performance standards when screened from view.
The clerk read a set of technical amendments introduced from Council District 14 that instruct the Planning Department to "initiate and present a code amendment to the low rise ordinance" and to allow an at‑grade parking option under limited conditions. The amendment also said the report to council would replace certain SB 79 annual reporting requirements.
Housing advocates who spoke during the three‑or‑more‑items public comment period largely supported the change. "This is a really big deal," Scott Epstein of Abundant Housing LA said, arguing that allowing at‑grade parking and form‑based density will make low‑rise projects more feasible. Matthew of Inner City Law Center told the committee the motion would "allow modest affordability in exchange for some more flexibility in the low rise ordinance and make sure these projects are built." Strategic Actions for a Just Economy speakers urged the council to consider incentives for 100% affordable development and to ensure transit access and tenant protections.
The committee approved the consent package, including the motion for item 10, with the roll call recorded as five ayes. The amendments are procedural instructions to planning staff, who must return with proposed code language and any replacement SB 79 reporting approach.
