Two Los Angeles City Council members have recently proposed a motion that aims to simplify the construction process of affordable housing on public land. The motion, introduced by Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez and Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson, seeks to remove the bureaucratic hurdles and lengthy permitting times often associated with this type of construction. According to Soto-Martínez, there are many vacant and underutilized public lots in the city that could be used for affordable housing, and this motion is a step towards making that vision a reality by cutting through the red tape that has contributed to the housing affordability crisis.
Most public land in the city falls under the classification of Public Facilities Zones, which only allows for permanent housing if the zoning densities of nearby zones permit it. This means that if the adjacent land is zoned for single-family housing or industrial use, using public land for housing requires costly and time-consuming zoning reviews and permits. Harris-Dawson emphasizes that this motion is crucial in expanding the availability of affordable housing.
In a statement, Harris-Dawson stated, “We have witnessed how current zoning restrictions impede housing production. This situation calls for a responsive system that caters to people’s needs.”
Mayor Karen Bass expressed gratitude to the council members for introducing the motion and highlighted the importance of utilizing city land to provide housing and improve lives. Bass stated, “The city of Los Angeles should spare no effort in bringing people indoors and ensuring that they have a permanent place to stay. We must continue to collaborate on an urgent and strategic approach to using city-owned land for housing development.”
This motion builds upon Bass’ executive directives which aim to accelerate the construction of affordable housing. Executive Directive No. 1 expedites the permit process for temporary shelters and affordable housing projects citywide, while Executive Directive No. 3 allows the emergency use of viable city-owned property for interim and temporary housing, as well as affordable housing projects.
The mayor’s office reports that the first directive has reduced the review time for affordable housing permits from an average of six months to just 37 days. The City Council has also introduced policies to institutionalize certain aspects of the mayor’s directive. However, these policies do not apply to public land due to its distinct zoning status.
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