City of los angeles general plan

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

Page I-2

regulation and use of land in stream beds, erosion, watershed

protection, flood control and rock, sand and gravel resources.

Open space, as defined by the California Government Code (Section

65560), is "any parcel or area of land or water that essentially is

unimproved and devoted to an open-space use," including:

(1)

preservation of natural resources, e.g., preservation of

flora and fauna (animal habitats), bird flyways, ecologic

and other scientific study areas, watershed;

(2)

managed production of resources, e.g., recharge of ground

water basins or containing mineral deposits that are in

short supply;

(3)

outdoor recreation, e.g., beaches, waterways, utility

easements, trails, scenic highway corridors; and/or

(4)

public health and safety, e.g., flood, seismic, geologic or

fire hazard zones, air quality enhancement.

Identification, preservation, protection and management of the natural

resources is a primary thrust of the state open space and conservation

element requirements. As is allowed by state law, Los Angeles has

organized its general plan to meet its own particular circumstances and

needs. It has opted to incorporate natural open space, agricultural and

other open space features of the state's open space requirements into

this Conservation Element. The Conservation Element references other

city plans that address mandated subjects, including water supply and

demand, which is addressed by city water plans and the general plan

Infrastructure Systems Element. The Conservation Element primarily

addresses preservation, conservation, protection and enhancement of the

city's natural resources.

Requirements and related issues addressed by other elements.

Conservation and open space subjects that are required or suggested by

state law and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research

Guidelines, and which are not addressed or only in part by this

element, are included in other general plan elements, such as:

--

air quality (Air Quality Element);

--

bicycle paths (Transportation and Open Space elements);

--

equestrian and hiking trails (Public Facilities and Services

Element and Open Space Element);

---

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

Page I-3

--

electrical energy resources and systems (Infrastructure

Systems Element);

--

fire, flood, geologic and seismic hazard (Safety Element);

--

landfills (Infrastructure Systems Element);

--

parks (Public Facilities and Services Element and Open Space

Element);

--

rivers and streams (open space aspects by Open Space

Element; drainage systems by Infrastructure Systems

Elements; flood hazard also by Safety Element);

--

scenic highways (Transportation and Open Space elements);

--

water resources (Infrastructure Systems Element).

Implementation. This element is implemented by the various city

regulations and programs described herein, consistent with the

implementation requirements of state general plan law (Government Code

Section 65400). In addition, some of the above listed elements and

individual community plans, which comprise the Land Use Element,

address conservation related land use and systems issues.

TECHNICAL REFERENCES. During the preparation of this element the

primary sources for technical information were enforcement and

resources management agencies. Exhibits were prepared from the planning

department's geographic information system (GIS).

FORMAT. Chapter II surveys resources that are to be conserved. It is

organized alphabetically according to topic. The table of contents

provides subheadings to assist the reader with subject searches. The

text includes general historic, legislative and program information,

along with cross references to related plans and information sources

and a summary of continuing issues that need to be addressed by city

government. 

The objectives, policies and programs are those that are within the

jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles. Programs related to matters

outside the authority of the city are not listed. The element contains

a single goal which applies to all topics.

The "General Plan Guidelines" issued by the Governor's Office of

Planning and Research (1998) advises that a general plan should contain

goals, objectives, policies, programs and implementation monitoring.

Goals are described as a general setting of direction, objectives as

---

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

Page I-4

intermediate steps in attaining the goal, policies as specific guides

to decision making and programs as specific means of achieving the

policies. Each policy is to have at least one corresponding

implementation measure. The element complies with these guidelines.

---