LCI Streamlining Plan: The Mayor’s Housing Innovation Advisory
The Problem
There is a broad consensus for the need for streamlining and cutting red tape for housing because it can significantly reduce the cost of housing so more projects “pencil out” and can get built and public subsidies can go farther. Cities and counties across Southern California have programs to reduce delays and red tape for small multi-family buildings, but we can go even further by looking to model cities, states and countries where it is standard to take 60-90 days to approve a project (Salt Lake City, Utah is a model for best practices).
The Innovation
The Mayor’s Housing Innovation Advisory concept was created by a long-time LA City Planner, who implemented a similar program with LAUSD and was able to approve dozens of schools in the early 2000s after decades of paralysis. The core idea is to bring the ten relevant agencies to the table under the Mayor to work out problems in real time, and address the friction so housing can be built as fast as possible, using model cities and states as a metric to hold ourselves accountable.
Background
For 30 years, LAUSD was unable to build new schools despite skyrocketing enrollment. There were multiple reasons – but when billions of dollars of bonds were approved by the voters, the Mayor created a Director of School Facilities position and assigned the planner to run it. She brought representatives from all of the involved city agencies to the table to work through problems in real time. The result was revolutionary: schools were built quickly and efficiently with no impediments caused by the city of Los Angeles.
How it can work
The Mayor issues an Executive Directive to form an Advisory Board with two members from each of the city agencies that deal with housing construction. The Advisory will expedite the process, while also partnering with builders, unions, the city departments, and stakeholders to further streamline the approval and permitting process – with the goal for Los Angeles to be “best in the nation” when it comes to building in terms of cost, speed, affordability of units, safety, quality, sustainability and livability -- taking best practices from across the country and the world.
The Advisory guarantees approvals under 90 days.
The Mayor’s Advisory will resolve conflicts among departments and eliminate unnecessary "stops.” The Mayor’s Advisory is an action-oriented entity to consolidate all of the requests, hearings, and requirements involving the key departments into one hearing with either the General Managers from all of the ten departments, or their top deputies, present and empowered to make final decisions. Relevant Departments:
Department of Planning
Department of Building and Safety
Department of Engineering (DOE)
LADWP
LAFD
Building & Safety
HCID
City Attorney
Parks and Rec
Public Works
The Results
In theory, the cost of building a project could be reduced by as much as ½ to ⅔, while increasing quality. By eliminating excess costs, red tape and delays, the city can increase the number of projects that “pencil out” and can get built in more areas across the city.
Where it Applies
Any city can adopt the program to speed approvals for different typologies of housing. Cities can also limit the program to housing that meets certain criteria for public benefits, such as: affordability and attainable home ownership; zero carbon buildings; availability of zero carbon mobility options; family-sized units; a diversity of sizes; high quality construction and design including ample air and light and courtyards; aligned with AFFH (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing).