Planning Commission Strengthens Draft Housing Element
On Thursday, June 26th, in a move that greatly advances the Housing LA 3-Point Plan, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission strengthened the draft Housing Element before approving it unanimously. The draft plan now goes on to the City Council for consideration.
Throughout the public hearing, a joint meeting of the Planning and Affordable Housing Commissions, members expressed their desire for a plan that proactively addresses LA's affordable housing crisis. Following the lead of the Planning Commission's housing committee, members strengthened the language in the staff draft to call for adopting a Mixed-Income Housing Ordinance, preserving rent stabilized apartments, and adding funding for new affordable apartments. Thus, the Commissions' actions give further momentum to Housing LA's plan for attacking the citywide affordable housing crisis.
Many thanks are due to the Housing LA members who traveled to Van Nuys and testified in support of the amendments recommended by SCANPH and Public Counsel. Several commissioners praised our concise and well organized testimony. Bill Pryzlucki, from People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER), was invited to open the hearing with a presentation on preserving affordability in Venice, the inclusionary successes of the Mello Act, and the need for laws that control condo conversions, mandate mixed-income development, and fund tenant buy-out programs. Very effective testimony was also given by other Housing LA member-organizations, including Coalition for Economic Survival (CES), LA CAN, the United University Church, SCANPH, ACORN, POWER, Public Counsel, LAFLA, Western Center on Law & Poverty and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles.
The changes to the draft document made by the Commission include:
• Mixed Income Housing: A call for adopting a Mixed-Income Housing Ordinance by the end of the year.
• Preservation: Prepare an ordinance to discourage the conversion of affordable housing, including rent-stabilized apartments, to condominiums, and drafting new policies that address the demolition of rent stabilized apartments.
• Funding for more affordable homes: Amend TFAR ordinance to dedicate all or a majority of funds to affordable housing, and complete a Housing Benefit Fee Study by the end of 2009.
Planning Commissioners Robin Hughes, Regina Freer and Bill Roschen, who make up the housing committee, obviously had done their homework, as they tackled a broad range of sometimes complicated issues. Other commissioners speaking out in support of out positions were Michael Woo and Cindy Montanez from the Planning Commission, and Evangeline Ordaz-Molina, Pete Navarro, Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, and Alice Salinas (at an earlier, June 12th hearing) from the Affordable Housing Commission.
The pro-affordable housing amendments approved by the Planning Commission, as well as the excellent contributions made by many Housing LA member-organizations give us hope and great energy as we follow the draft Housing Element to the LA City Council. We are excited about continuing to work with all of you to ensure that a strategic plan that truly addresses the magnitude of the affordable housing crisis is adopted.
