Land Use
Advocacy
Urban land use is incredibly important because land is a finite, non-renewable resource that serves as the foundation for all urban activities, including housing, infrastructure, economic development, and community spaces, impacting quality of like and sustainability.
Land Use Planning is essential for organizing and managing the use of land in a way that supports the needs of the city and its residents.
LUNA is a strong advocate for responsible growth in our neighborhood. We seek to be good stewards of our community and safeguard its unique character. Land Use issues include state and city laws and ordinances, new developments, homes being built, renovated or improperly used, historic preservation, restaurant operations, parking and the appropriate use of undeveloped land.
Many of you already contribute to advocacy efforts on behalf our neighborhood. Consider joining LUNA’s Land Use Committee and help us achieve a thriving community evolving at scale. There’s plenty to do!
Land Use and Zoning - Who’s in charge?
Land use and zoning are main factors for how you can use your property. They describe how many units you can create and where and what kinds of businesses you can operate. They also describe how to design them for a specific location. Any proposed use must meet both land use and zoning.
Both the City and the State weigh in on planning and zoning decisions in Los Angeles. For the City, Los Angeles Planning takes the lead role. To understand the rules and regulations that affect a property in our city the single most comprehensive resource is ZIMAS,
ZIMAS stands for Zone Information and Map Access System. It’s a web-based mapping tool used by the City of Los Angeles to provide zoning information for properties within the city. This system allows users to access and view zoning regulations and other relevant information about specific locations in the city.
A comprehensive guide to using ZIMAS can be found here. YouTube tutorials can be found here.
Permitting and Enforcement
Building and development in Los Angeles is overseen by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). LADBS issues permits, conducts inspections and responds to complaints from residents about problems at an address including improper or un-permitted construction and the upkeep of a property. To file complaint click here.
Historic Preservation
Many of Los Angeles’s historic and culturally important properties are eligible for special designations and protections from inappropriate development. More information can be found on LA Planning. You can search for historic places here. Other resources include the LA Conservancy.
Our Advocacy Efforts
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Supporting new, innovative approaches like the Livable Communities Initiative to allow housing and increased density to come to Larchmont in harmony with the scale and fabric of our neighborhood.
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Working with the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, our CD13 Council Office and State Senate Senator and Assembly Member on the neighborhood’s behalf while keeping a watchful eye and bringing to the attention of the neighborhood laws and ordinances that pose threats to our neighborhood; advocating against those that pose a risk and for those from which we will stand to benefit.
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Working together with nearby neighborhoods to require a proposed new restaurant to comply with neighborhood standard hours of operation and institute a parking plan to ensure safety and quiet on adjacent residential streets.
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Identifying qualifying historic properties in Larchmont and helping property owners or tenants obtain Historic Cultural Monument Designation.
We are currently focused on the following issues:
Larchmont 2030
Larchmont 2030, launched by Reboot Larchmont and the Livable Communities Initiative and endorsed by LUNA, is the re-imagination of Upper Larchmont using standard plans to allow high quality affordable housing with family-sized units through ownership, thoughtful at-neighborhood-scale design, ground floor retail opportunities for small businesses, innovative parking solutions, enhanced mobility options and a streetscape able to be easily activated for community events.
Larchmont 2030 proposes to continue the wonderful first floor commercial vernacular of Larchmont Village, adding housing above retail, and extending this vital combination north from Beverly to Melrose. The goal, when realized, will be an enhanced, easily walkable neighborhood with a new approach to inclusionary home ownership and preserving of the wonderful character of our neighborhood.
More information on Livable Communities Initiative can be found HERE.
Save the Farmers’ Market Parking Lot - Save Our Town Square!
Larchmont Lot 694 is home to our beloved, twice-weekly Farmer's Market, convenient parking that benefits customers and local business and the only space on Larchmont where our community and organizations can hold public events including numerous annual charity events! The lot is threatened by a City-proposed ground lease that would allow a developer to build on the lot and destroy its current uses!
LUNA encourages everyone to add your voice to those who oppose this sweetheart deal between the City and the developer by signing the petition and to attend the Board of Transportation Commissioners Meeting on November 13th!
For information on the proposed deal:
City WatchLA’s coverage of the GWNC Land Use Commitee Meeting
Larchmont Buzz Article from last week
Larchmont Buzz coverage of the GWNC land Use Committee Meeting
State Bill SB79
Unfortunately, State Bill SB79 which allows buildings from 65’ to 75’ to be built on any property along designated transit corridors and in proximity to Major Transit Stops passed both houses of the state legislature, each by one vote. The Governor signed it in October. It will go into effect in June of 2026.
As of now, the maps that have been released do not show Larchmont as being immediately affected. However, more complete maps are expected to be released by SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) which will further expand the scope of SB79’s impact in Los Angeles.
If SCAG releases a map equivalent to the SCAG 2050 map that the City currently uses to make transit-related development decisions, then all of Larchmont as well as neighboring communities will be vulnerable.
LUNA has supported all the advocacy efforts against SB79. We are part of United Neighbors, the over 80 neighborhoods who collectively worked to oppose SB79 and are now working to find alternative plans, allowable under the bill, that the City Council could consider as well as other ways and means to mitigate any possible effect of SB79 in our area.