The Larchmont Buzz gave a terrific recap of the Hollywood Community Plan Update hearing.. WH area is the 'Regional Center', only one of the areas discussed, but there was alot of discussion about it and one of the reasons the Commissioners did not vote and will carry over to March 18th. The Planning Dept., after community and neighborhood council/stakeholder engagement, over the course of a few years, along with our former CD4 Councilmember Ryu, having meetings, listening, correspondences, made decisions based on all of that input, and incorporated into the Plan. However one commissioner was not in agreement and wanted increased FAR (floor area ratio) and Upzoning (greater density, larger projects) for this area, the 'Regional Center' (and other areas). The problem is, as stated by the Planning Commission chair, that land in the 'Regional Center' is already very expensive, and since Upzoning increases land value, it would be difficult to build any affordable housing in the 'Regional Center' area and that is the #1 issue, request/concern from all the public input, many of the Public Comments at the hearing, and comments submitted to the file..and they are very mindful of the need for affordable housing. So the Planning Chair requested an 'economic feasibility study' to see how building affordable in this area will 'pencil out' if they increase the FAR and Upzoning more than what Planning has in the Plan now. Other commissioners agreed with her, the commissioners were split, so they will wait to see the study and decide at the next hearing. Also opposed to increasing the Upzoning was Hollywood Heritage, many callers from HH, preservation orgs, and supporters..letters submitted, etc. Increasing Upzoning in the area, the Hollywood Historic core, threatens Hollywood Historic Preservation, past, present, and into the future, Hollywood Historic Resources, and National Historic Register Hollywood Blvd. ..

THE LARCHMONT BUZZ....

Planning Commission Hears New Draft of Hollywood Community Plan – Part 2: Discussion February 24, 2021 Elizabeth Fuller

.On Monday, we wrote about the details of the February 18 City Planning Commission hearing on the latest draft of the revised Hollywood Community Plan. The Plan, one of 35 throughout the city that sets zoning and development goals for a local area, works in concert with the city’s General Plan to define the types of land use zones for different neighborhoods, and the kinds of tools that will be used in each zone to promote new development, construct more affordable housing, support business development, protect historic resources, and more. Thursday’s meeting ran 6 1/2 hours, with most of it devoted to discussion of specific points in the draft plan. On Monday, we looked at the details of the plan itself, and today we’ll review the lengthy discussion of those details, to see who’s speaking out on which issues, and which elements of the plan drew the most scrutiny. In all, about 75 individual residents, advocacy group representatives, property owner/developer reps, and others provided feedback at the meeting. And then there were comments from Hollywood-area Neighborhood Councils and City Council representatives, and, finally, a lengthy discussion among the planning commissioners…who did not finish their deliberations, and will return to continue the discussion at the March 18 CPC meeting. Public Comment Among the more than 75 speakers during public comments, there were representatives from at least five Hollywood-area neighborhood associations, and nearly 20 interest groups focused on housing, homelessness, labor, business, entertainment studios, sustainability, churches, and more. There were also many individual residents, several street vendors, property owners/developers, and even one current city council candidate. Housing In general,the greatest number of speakers during the comment session addressed housing considerations in the plan, and whether or not they go far enough to promote construction of affordable (and not just market-rate or luxury) housing…or go too far and risk destroying Hollywood’s distinctive historic character and existing affordable housing. Kicking off the public comments, several representatives of local neighborhood associations, who have been working with Planning Department staff for several years to hammer out details of the new HCP, said the hard work has paid off and resulted in a plan they support and would like to see adopted. To read the rest... The article is too long to copy here....the link below may not open from the Forum page..but it looks like if you click Elizabeth's name or the date up there at top of the article in blue, it takes you to article..or, copy and paste link to your computer and it should open the article. https://www.larchmontbuzz.com/featured-stories-larchmont-village/planning-commission-hears-new-draft-of-hollywood-community-plan-part-2-discussion/