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AIA|LA Advocates for the Future of Planning in the City of Los Angeles

Last Updated: July 22, 2010

AIA|LA Advocates for the Future of Planning in the City of Los Angeles

3780 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010, USA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Will Wright
AIA Los Angeles
Tel: 213-639-0777 x18
Email:
www.aialosangeles.org

July 21, 2010

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
City of Los Angeles
200 North Spring Street, Room 303?
Los Angeles, CA 90012

RE: Director of Planning and the Future of Planning in the City of Los Angeles

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa:

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) expresses its gratitude to Gail Goldberg for her accomplishments as Director of the Department of City Planning (DCP), as well as its support for the initiatives begun under the leadership of the DCP and the Planning Commission during her tenure. Meaningful momentum to Do Real Planning has been achieved and it is important to carry these efforts forward while you search for a new Director of Planning. The Urban Design Studio, tools such as the urban design guidelines and the walkability checklist, and commitment to the community plan process will ensure a healthier, more livable, and more economically competitive Los Angeles.

The next Director of Planning is a key resource, requiring community-based vision, an entrepreneurial spirit, and business-friendly attitude that will catalyze design and planning excellence citywide. Time is also of the essence, as strong planning leadership is critical if Los Angeles is to capitalize on the upcoming opportunities presented by Measure R infrastructure improvements and the continuing redevelopment of other parts of our city.

Additionally, to make the efforts of the DCP and the new Director more effective, to make the operations of city government more efficient, and to fully capitalize on this transition, AIA|LA advises your office to take several specific actions related to planning Los Angeles. Attached, please find our recommendations for three ways to improve the future of our city.

AIA|LA looks forward to serving as a leadership resource to assist you, your staff, and other civic decision-makers in implementing these ideas.

The future prosperity of Los Angeles requires excellent city planning and a strong and visionary planning director.

Very truly yours,

Paul Danna, AIA
President
AIA Los Angeles

THE FUTURE OF PLANNING in the CITY OF LOS ANGELES

AIA|LA recommends the following actions in order to maximize the effectiveness of the planning resources of the City of Los Angeles:

  1. Provide the resources necessary to update key Community Plans, especially in targeted areas where the City anticipates and desires substantial development, such as areas where Measure R transit investments will be made. Community Plans provide the certainty required by both business and community interests and remove the unsustainable burden of discretionary review, which otherwise congests the limited resources of City staff while limiting investment in the future of Los Angeles.

  2. Separate the DCP's land-use regulations functions from its planning functions and integrate the City's land-use, building and safety regulatory functions into a comprehensive "Department of Development Services". At present, an estimated 80% of DCP staff resources are applied to processing permits and reacting to development initiatives on a case-by-case basis. This leaves 20% of staff resources to Do Real Planning. To have an environmental and economic future, Los Angeles must plan its future.

  3. Integrate all of the City's planning functions into a comprehensive "Department of Planning and Urban Design". This department would consolidate the disparate planning functions currently occurring simultaneously within numerous citywide agencies and proprietary departments and better leverage the resources Los Angeles is already committing to citywide planning efforts.

Integrating all planning efforts into the purview of the Planning Department will bring resources to bear on the important work of planning Los Angeles' future, eliminate cross-department duplication of efforts, reduce inter-agency and departmental planning redundancy, enable the City to maximize its planning resources, and create a more attractive job opportunity for the next Planning director.

For more information, please contact:
Will Wright
Director, Government & Public Affairs
AIA Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (213) 639-0777
Email:

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