The city is making it easy to file public comments on the builder incentive ordinances for the Housing Element, but there are a few caveats to be aware of.
First, despite what others are saying, the deadline for written comments is August 26th at 5 pm, not August 1st (the original date). Anybody reporting August 1st was not at the meeting and doesn’t have current facts.
Second, the case number has to be in your subject line for your comments to land in the correct file.
Third, the email address is housingelement@lacity.org.
Please make sure your like-minded network is submitting also. A suggested email is below to make it super easy for you to submit.
It is less impactful for people to copy and paste the same message over and over. Custom messages carry more weight because they look more thoughtful.
For this reason, I’m including one recommended opening paragraph and a menu of possible second paragraphs (or substitute your own), along with a recommended closing paragraph.
To: housingelement@lacity.org***
Subject: Public Comment for [insert your file number here]
Message:
[Highly recommended first paragraph for all messages]
Hello Housing Element Planning Team,
I am writing today to thank you for removing the single family neighborhoods and coastal zone from the builder incentives proposed for the Housing Element, and to strongly urge you to leave them out as you move forward to finalize the ordinances.
Menu of alternatives to personalize your second paragraph
The corridors make the most sense in terms of focusing precious city budget dollars on infrastructure improvements, and providing easy resident access to shops, restaurants and transit (hopefully incentivizing them to ditch, or minimize use of, their cars). Building density without walkability makes no sense.
OR
My own single-family neighborhood is very inclusive. We welcome all who embrace the low-rise lifestyle we’ve paid a premium to enjoy.
OR
Single-family neighborhoods were built for light density. Why would it make sense to our cash-strapped city to spread out infrastructure improvements across random high-rises in low-rise neighborhoods?
OR
Abundant Housing and its supporters will tell you it’s “unfair” to exclude single family neighborhoods from the builder incentives. Why is a high-rise apartment on a street with low-rise single family residences more fair than the same high-rise on the corridor surrounding the same neighborhood?
OR
The city’s own planning numbers, as discussed over the last year with United Neighbors, clearly demonstrate ample room on the commercial corridors to meet our RHNA requirements.
OR
Our precious single-family neighborhoods are already subject to upzoning with ADUs and SB9. Put the high-rises where they belong – along the commercial zones with other tall buildings.
OR
Many commenters at the public hearing claimed they can’t live in opportunity rich neighborhoods because single family zoning is protected. That is a false argument. All opportunity zones have corridors.
OR
Commenters at the public hearing claim that single family homeowners are being excluded from development opportunities. This is a false argument. Homeowners don’t want to develop (and if they do, they have SB9). Only developers want to build high-rises in low-rise neighborhoods because the lots are cheaper.
OR
Despite what commenters said at the public hearing, there is no moral imperative to obliterate the single family neighborhoods with high-rises, as long as there is still room to build nearby on the corridors.
OR
It makes no sense to subject our city to inevitable litigation when damaged homeowners sue because their light and privacy have been diminished and the value of their home has dropped, particularly when there is still an alternative with the corridors.
OR
Your own personal story about working hard to own your single family home.
[Highly recommended closing paragraph for all messages]
I know there is a lot of pressure to obliterate our single family neighborhoods with high-rises, but we don’t need to do that yet. There is ample room along the corridors. Please do not change the current draft of the ordinances to include single family neighborhoods or the coastal zone.
Respectfully.
[please use your real name]
*** I have mixed feelings about adding councilmembers to these emails. On one hand, this process is not about them in the least. On the other hand, it doesn’t hurt for them to see their inboxes stuffed with our sentiment, but I would recommend adding them to the bcc field. If they see all 13 members, it will be easy to assume you aren’t their constituent, and if you aren’t, you don’t exist to them. Find their email addresses here.
Tracy is active in a number of local community organizations including the Neighborhood Council PLUC, Neighborhood Council Ad Hoc CPU Committee, Kentwood Home Guardians and Emerson Ave Community Garden Club. The views expressed in this post are Tracy’s alone, and should not be construed in any way as an opinion of any other group. Are you planning a meeting with the planners? Have Tracy along to make sure you get the same information other community members get. Are you willing to host a group of your neighbors for a talk on housing policy and zoning changes? Tracy would be happy to join you.
About Tracy Thrower Conyers Tracy Thrower Conyers is a long-time resident of Westchester 90045. Tracy closely follows local politics, political players and social chatter relevant to Westchester. You’ll frequently find her at Neighborhood Council meetings, as well as on all the social platforms where 90045 peeps hang out. Tracy is a real estate broker and founding principal in Silicon Beach Properties. She is a recognized expert on Silicon Beach and its impact on residential and residential income real estate, and has been featured by respected media outlets including the LA Times, KPCC and KCET. Tracy is also a licensed attorney and accidental housing policy junkie.
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