A message from our friends at United Neighbors

2/25/26

Hi Everyone,

We want to update you on the PLUM meeting yesterday.

First, many thanks for all the hundreds of emails all of you sent out. The “by mail notification” to impacted residents was addressed by CM Nazarian right after the public comment period yesterday where we mentioned it again. He asked Planning if that was possible and they answered “it wasn’t mandatory” and he replied “But it is the right thing to do.” So instructions to include notification were given to the Planning Department. Thank you all for helping magnify this issue and thanks to CM Nazarian for supporting it.

As far as which implementation option moves forward to full City Council. We supported B because C proactively rezoned neighborhoods making it impossible to downzone later should SB 79 get amended or repealed. We brought that up again yesterday and CM Blumenfield addressed it straight on. He confirmed with Planning that although they use the word upzoning and rezoning that isn’t what they are doing. The underlying zoning stays R1 ( single family) but “incentives” are added to allow more density to comply with SB 79. Those incentives can be removed should SB 79 get amended. We have sent out to Blair Smith in Planning a request for written confirmation that this is exactly what is intended with option C “upzoning”.

If this is true, then Approach C1-C2 which will limit development in our neighborhoods to three stories is something we will consider supporting. We obviously don’t want three stories in our neighborhoods and a critical issue is whether the setbacks for the underlying zoning will be required. We are asking Blair. But for now it may be the safest move and one that may not entice developers to build in our neighborhoods.

C1-C2 will increase density around major rail stations. High fire, HOPZs and low resource areas are temporarily exempt. The PLUM committee had only three members present yesterday and their vote to advance C2 ,as the implementation option they want to move forward with, did not receive a quorum vote so it is going to City Council with just the recommendation of the Chair rather than the committee. We should all look at the maps and discuss our position.

We are enclosing Planning Department instructions on how to access the maps so you can see for yourselves what C options 1-2-3 allow. We will be happy to zoom call with you should you want us to go over it with you. If enough of you need help we will set up a general zoom meeting and go over everyone’s area. We want everyone to be fully informed.

We will continue to try and get SB 79 amended or repealed but in the meantime this implementation action may be the best we can get. Check out the maps. Let us know if you want a meeting so we can all talk.

Thanks go out to all of you again for all the letters sent and to Barbara Broide and Shelley Wagers and the Woodland Hills group that attended and spoke at the hearing with us.

Best,
Maria, Cindy, Jeff, Marc