Coalition Preserve L.A. Ballot Measure Added for March

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Coalition to Preserve L.A. has another win today.

The Los Angeles City Council opted Friday to added to the March ballot a measure to temporarily halt some large developments in the city until plans for neighborhood development are updated and other changes are made.

The measure was put forward by the Coalition to Preserve L.A., whose members contend the city's process for approving big projects ignores limits on height and density, and other guidelines, set by residents.

The measure would put an up to two year temporary ban on projects that are denser, taller or contain more floor area than is allowed in existing zoning and land use rules for the area.

Under the city's existing planning rules, in order to build many of the projects that are being proposed, developers must ask the city to grant exceptions, known as general plan amendments.

Proponents of the ballot measure contend the process has become standard practice and creates cozy relationships between City Council members and developers.

Opponents say the measure ignores the power of homeowners associations, and that it would worsen an existing housing crisis by preventing more units to be built. Homeless housing units would also be halted under the measure, according to its critics.

The council had the option of adopting the ordinance the way it was written by proponents, but decided instead to put the issue to voters in March.

Council President Herb Wesson said he supported placing the measure on the ballot because he does not feel "there is anything close to a consensus as to what Angelenos want to do on that."

"It's now up to the voters, and we'll see what happens in March," he said.

City News Service contributed to this report. Shutterstock Photo