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June 5, 2007

City Adopts Interim Urgency Ordinance for Medium and High-Density Multi-Family Residential Zoning Districts

In an effort to more strategically address the housing needs of West Hollywood, the West Hollywood City Council has adopted an Interim Urgency Ordinance for Medium and High-Density Multi-Family Residential Zoning Districts (Interim Urgency Ordinance). The Interim Urgency Ordinance will regulate the issuance of permits for residential construction in these zoning districts through Thursday, July 19, 2007 for a 45-day time period. The ordinance may be extended to a maximum of two years following a second public hearing.

"The interim ordinance will give us the breathing room we need to discuss and decide our future housing plans for the City," said West Hollywood Mayor John Duran. "It is impossible to strategize long term when new construction applications continue to be filed with projects inconsistent with our housing goals," he continued.

"Development must respect the integrity and character of the community, as well as our current residents," said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Jeffrey Prang."While we are proud that West Hollywood is such an attractive community for developers to invest, the City has an obligation to ensure that new development meets local standards and objectives. This interim ordinance provides a brief cooling off period allowing us to review development trends and to retool our policies to ensure smart, yet sensitive growth," he continued.

The Interim Urgency Ordinance places new standards on multi-family construction in the medium-density (R3) and high-density (R4) zoning districts. During the period in which the ordinance is in effect, the Interim Urgency Ordinance does the following:

1. Allow only multi-family projects in the R3 and R4 zoning districts which meet the following standards:

All residential units constructed shall be no larger than600 sq-ft. for a studio; 800 sq-ft. for a one-bedroom; and 1,250 sq-ft. for a 2-bedroom (no unit shall exceed 1,250 sq-ft).

The building shall not exceed 3 stories and 35 feet (in R3B, R3C and R4 zones).

The net increase in total residential units shall be 300 percent.

2. Allow affordable housing projects where at least 50 percent of units are affordable;

3. Allow projects that span parcels zoned Sunset Specific Plan and that provide commercial enhancement on Sunset Boulevard; and

4. Allow issuance of permits to projects that were deemed complete, or received planning permits before May 21, 2007.

Projects not subject to the new development standards include:

1. Single-family, duplex or multi-family construction in the R1 & R2 zones;

2. Commercial and mixed-use construction in the commercial neighborhood, commercial community, commercial arterial and the Sunset Specific Plan zones;

3. Any non-residential land uses (education facilities, places or worship, etc.); and

4. Projects that include the addition of units without the demolition of units.

"The interim revisions to our zoning ordinances that were adopted by the City Council are designed to ensure that the development that occurs in our R3 and R4 residential areas better meets the needs of our community," said West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land. "This interim ordinance will allow some development to continue while City staff, commissioners, the Council and the community focus on the updating of our General Plan and Housing element. We will also have an opportunity to periodically review these revisions to determine if they help us achieve the type of housing that the Council and the community wish to see," she continued.

The West Hollywood City Council will hold an additional public hearing on the Interim Urgency Ordinance at its regularly scheduled City Council meeting which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 16, 2007 at West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard. At that time, the City Council will consider extending the Interim Urgency Ordinance for up to a total of two years. The City Council could also change the interim standards or choose not to extend the ordinance.

For more information, regarding the Interim Urgency Ordinance, please contact John Keho, Planning Manager, at (323) 848-6393.