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Call to Action re: SB79 implementation
Posted on 05/04/2026
Land Use update re: SB79 - Council File # 25-1803 - City Planning Commission hearing held 5-14-26 and next goes to City Council (PLUM) - Commission approved the draft recommendation for the Low Rise Ordinance. They also approved 3 technical modifications which were last minute additions made by Planning. Exhibit 2B that added more density than Planning recommended was not supported by the Commission but will go to the City Council for consideration. Technical modifications: Approved by Commission
1. Rear yard setbacks were changed from 4 ft rear to 8 ft. Better than 4 but not what we wanted
2. A 15 ft rear yard setback could be offered as an incentive to meet the open space requirement. We had suggested this to Planning last week as a way to make a 15 ft rear yard setback attractive to developers. Developers are required to offer open space for these projects. Rooftop use as open space is often a way developers meet that requirement. However, because rooftops are expensive to make available for this use, most developers don't like doing them. Offering open space credit for a 15 ft setback seemed like a good way to get this setback from developers. Planning agreed. This is voluntary but an attractive offer none the less.
We thank Planning for agreeing to add this modification.
3. Balconies could extend out to 5 ft in the front facade of the developments.
It was clarified today that any changes to SB 79 will impact this ordinance in the same way. Reassuring!
By mail notification was determined to be too expensive so it is currently not being considered! Ridiculous!
We need to keep pushing as this goes to the City Council and PLUM ( Planning and Land Use committee).
1. Rear yard setbacks were changed from 4 ft rear to 8 ft. Better than 4 but not what we wanted
2. A 15 ft rear yard setback could be offered as an incentive to meet the open space requirement. We had suggested this to Planning last week as a way to make a 15 ft rear yard setback attractive to developers. Developers are required to offer open space for these projects. Rooftop use as open space is often a way developers meet that requirement. However, because rooftops are expensive to make available for this use, most developers don't like doing them. Offering open space credit for a 15 ft setback seemed like a good way to get this setback from developers. Planning agreed. This is voluntary but an attractive offer none the less.
We thank Planning for agreeing to add this modification.
3. Balconies could extend out to 5 ft in the front facade of the developments.
It was clarified today that any changes to SB 79 will impact this ordinance in the same way. Reassuring!
By mail notification was determined to be too expensive so it is currently not being considered! Ridiculous!
We need to keep pushing as this goes to the City Council and PLUM ( Planning and Land Use committee).
==============
We started two weeks ago sending letters to our council members informing them of our concerns regarding implementation of SB 79, specifically the reduction of rear and side setbacks and the need for "by mail" notification. The Planning Department has sent their draft ordinance to the Planning Commission; they will take public comment and vote on the draft. The draft will then be sent to the PLUM Committee of the City Council and then to the City Council and the Mayor for final approval. We need to send letters every step of the way.
This is our concern: The draft ordinance from Planning recommends:
1. Rear setbacks reduced from 15 ft to 4 ft. That is not only unnecessary to meet the density requirements of SB 79 but it is a fire safety issue and a health issue that none of us should allow.
2. No notifications. It was decided that notification is too expensive. With such a massive land use change to many neighborhoods, notification should be a must. Remember anyone selling a house in these areas will need to disclose their area allows multifamily developments. City government needs to be transparent. That's how we build trust.
3. Implementation of SB 79 was never meant to be a rezoning but rather an "incentive" for developers to build more housing in areas impacted by SB 79. But when we last spoke to Planning (as they prepared the draft) even though this implementation is based on SB 79 we were told that if SB 79 were repealed the density increase would probably not be reduced. That makes no sense. These density incentives should disappear if SB 79 ever gets repealed or amended. If this draft ordinance does not follow SB 79 then we are being misled and rezoned.
CALL TO ACTION 1:
Please "click and send" a letter to the Planning Commission which will vote on this draft implementation on May 14. Here is the link: OPPOSE CPC-2026-1797-CA . We must do this in the next couple of days. Be sure to add your name and address at the end of the letter before sending. You can change the letter to suit your organization or modify it to suit your needs. We are copying the mayor's people.
Although the Planning Commission usually accepts the Planning Department's recommendations, we must push back against their recommendation. We need HOAs, NC, and individuals to please submit letters. If click and send doesn't work for your computer send your comments to [email protected]. reference this file #CPC2026-1797-CA and copy/paste the letter attached.
CALL TO ACTION 2:
Send this same letter to the Council File: #CF 25-1083.
Here is the link: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/
We will do a "click and send" again to our council members and to the mayor once the draft leaves the Commission.
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