A city commission Thursday moved forward an update to the Boyle Heights Community Plan, which is intended to guide community growth and development in the coming years for the historic working-class neighborhood.
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission approved the plan 8-0 with commissioner Elizabeth Zamora absent during the meeting. Key points of the plan aim to preserve affordable housing and support local business, while also encouraging future housing development that can help community members stay in their neighborhood.
The plan proposes expanding a two-bedroom requirement for 100% affordable housing projects from 30% to 60%, as well as increasing the number of low-incoming housing units for new developments from 22% to 50%.
In addition, the plan would establish several tenant protective measures that are outlined in the South Los Angeles Community Plan Implementation Overlay District — a zoning tool designed to carry out the goals and objectives of updated community plans.
These measures would offer displaced residents the first right to return, and introduce a Local Preference Plan that would prioritize individuals and families who currently live in Boyle Heights or have been displaced from the neighborhood.
Several provisions in the plan focus on supporting local businesses such as incorporating a vacancy tax, limitation on rent hikes for commercial properties, tax incentives for landlords who retain local legacy businesses in their properties and ensuring new commercial developments have shop sizes consistent with local small businesses.
Many of these recommendations were introduced by Councilman Kevin de León, who represents the 14th District, which includes Boyle Heights. The L.A. City Council previously backed de Leon’s suggestions in December.
The Boyle Heights CPA covers an area east of Downtown Los Angeles, the L.A. River and the rail corridor, encompassing approximately 4,271 acres or 6.67 square miles. It’s bounded by Interstate 10 and Marengo Street to the north, the Union Pacific and Sante Fe Railroad lines to the south, Indiana Street to the east and the L.A. River to the west.
However, as part of discussions, there was a call to change the land-use designation of an area adjacent to the L.A. River and railroads tracks, which is currently designated for light and heavy industrial uses. The area encompasses an industrial district that is bounded by the Interstate 101 to the north, Mission Road and Utah Street and Clarence Street to the east, and Seventh Street to the South.
This area has several warehouses, offices, textile manufacturing and food processing facilities. City planners and city officials are considering changing the land use of this area to incorporate more housing.
Councilman de León’s office had recommended a hybrid industrial/industrial mixed-use designation that would allow for ongoing light industrial and housing use, while city planners suggested a light industrial designation, placing limitations on housing use.
The thought process behind this land-use change is to provide housing for blue-collar workers in the area.
“Boyle Heights is one our most delicate, sensitive, starkly disenfranchised neighborhoods, and so as I’m thinking about the introduction of housing into this industrial zone I want to be cautious about it,” Samantha Millman, president of the City Planning Board of Commissioners, said.
Millman expressed her concerns that if the area were to transition to a hybrid land-use designation it would take too long to see that transition, and in the meantime, industrial use would continue.
“We’re talking about trucks, emissions and noise,” Millman said.
She also expressed her concerns that future housing development in this area would not benefit workers, even with the additional tenant protections outlined in the plan.
“While I think it is very true that one day, this might be a great location for a hybrid industrial zone. I’m not comfortable doing that right now,” Millman said.
She added, “I just don’t think that we have the tools we need today to ensure the community can be protected in the way that we want them to be protected.”
The commissioners ultimately approved the updated Boyle Heights Community Plan with the revision that the industrial district be designated for light industrial use instead of a hybrid use. The planning document will be discussed by the L.A. City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee at a future date.