LA City Council Committee approves Wildlife District Ordinance

The Planning and Land Use Management Committee of the Los Angeles City Council has approved the Wildlife District Ordinance, a proposed set of regulations aimed at balancing wildlife habitat and connectivity with private property development. Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, a member of the committee, emphasized the need to take action to care for and preserve wildlife. She stated that the ordinance presents an opportunity to create sensible land use and zoning regulations that address hillside issues and climate resiliency goals on a systemic level.

After a thorough public comment period, the PLUM Committee voted 4-0 in favor of the proposed wildlife district, with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez absent from the meeting. The ordinance, which will now go to the full City Council for approval, includes regulations for lot coverage, floor area, grading, height, fences, trash enclosures, and window and lighting requirements.

If passed, the ordinance will first be implemented as a pilot program in the western Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Mountains, including Griffith Park, within the Fourth and Fifth Council Districts. After a certain period of time, the city will consider expanding the program to include Protection Areas for Wildlife within the city.

Additionally, the ordinance does not exempt basement areas from residential floor area calculations. Any housing project that involves 6,000 square feet or more of development will trigger a Site Plan Review. Projects within the wildlife district will be evaluated through administrative review and site plan review processes, with the latter providing the best opportunity for tailoring projects to minimize impacts on wildlife and critical habitat areas.

The Planning Department has focused the proposed wildlife ordinance on primarily single-family zones due to the significant public open space lands in the pilot area. Without intervention, development in these hillsides could negatively affect the character that makes them attractive.

While there were supporters of the city’s efforts to protect wildlife, some homeowners affected by the proposed ordinance expressed concerns about the provisions limiting square footage. A spokesperson for Neighbors for Hillside Safety argued that the ordinance primarily regulates development rather than wildlife.

The Planning Department has engaged in extensive public outreach throughout the almost-decade-long process of developing the ordinance. This included workshops, public hearings, e-blasts to interested individuals, and mailed notices to residents in the affected area. The department began working on the ordinance in 2014 following a motion by former Councilman Paul Koretz to establish land use regulations that maintain wildlife connectivity in the city.