City of los angeles general plan

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-45

(e.g., legal, financial, bureaucratic) so that contaminated properties

cleaned up and redeveloped, thereby providing a catalyst for community

revitalization.

Primary agencies involved in the city's brownfields program are the

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the EAD, Community Development

Department, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and City Council

offices of districts in which the projects are located. Other agencies

join to provide technical expertise, help secure funding, coordinate

infrastructure improvements and assist in site redevelopment.

One of the city's first brownfields demonstration projects was the

Goodyear Tract, a 208-acre, multi-ownership industrial area located in

South Central Los Angeles near the Alameda rail corridor. For over a

decade the area was the focus of debate regarding the appropriate

mechanism to achieve neighborhood-compatible reuse. The mechanism

selected was designation of the area, including the Goodyear Tract, as

a redevelopment project area, under the administration of the CRA. The

Goodyear Tract portion will be redeveloped primarily with industrial

uses.

Another project is the former Crown Coach site, a 20-acre vacant

contaminated parcel that is owned by the State of California and is

located less than three miles from the Los Angeles civic center. Under

agreement with the state, Los Angeles conducted a site assessment. It

subsequently completed soil cleanup and has issued a request for

proposal for site development which will maximize community and

economic benefit of the site. The developer will collaborate with the

state to accomplish groundwater cleanup.

The innovative collaborative approach and success of the Goodyear Tract

and other brownfields projects helped the city win selection as one of

16 communities around the nation to be designated (1998) by the federal

government as Brownfields Showcase Communities. The designation made

the city eligible for special funding and technical assistance from

federal agencies which have joined to address brownfields issues in Los

Angeles. The city's program provides direct technical and other

assistance to over 30 sites throughout the city (2000).

NPDES. The Bureau of Sanitation has regulatory authority over discharge

of hazardous and non-hazardous materials into sewer and stormwater

systems. In 1998 responsibility for coordination of the city's

compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

(NPDES) municipal stormwater permit was transferred from the

engineering to the sanitation bureau. 

---

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-46

Conclusion. The city has a primary regulatory, informational and

catalytic role in hazardous materials management, cleanup and 

brownfields site revitalization.

Continuing issues:

N

 Reduce the amount of release of toxic waste into air, land and water.

N

 Existing contaminated sites that pose a threat to public or

environmental health, or discourage site redevelopment.

N

 Improper use, storage, transport or disposal of hazardous materials.

N

 Accidental release of hazardous materials.

Hazardous materials goals, objectives, policies and programs: see the

Safety Element. The new information identified in this element is

covered by the objectives and policies of the Safety Element.

For related information see:

N

 "Infrastructure Systems Element" (wastewater, solid waste and water

resources management), Los Angeles City General Plan (under

preparation);

N

 Ocean Section (NPDES permit); and

N

 "Safety Element" (hazardous materials), Los Angeles City General

Plan, Los Angeles Department of City Planning, 1996.

SECTION 15: LAND FORM AND SCENIC VISTAS

The city encompasses 467 square miles of land area, including

approximately 214 square miles of hills and mountains. The San Gabriel

and Santa Susana Mountains bound the city on the north, the Santa

Monica Mountains extend across the middle of the city, and the Palos

Verdes Hills and Pacific Ocean are on the south and west. The

topography rises from sea level to 5,074 feet (Sister Elsie station in

the San Gabriel Mountain foothills in Tujunga). The Santa Monica

Mountains are the most visible feature from many areas of the city.

They are 60 miles long and stretch from Elysian and Griffith parks in

Los Angeles to Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County. The Los Angeles

River and its associated tributaries and flood plains also are

prominent topographic features.

Land form protection. Several sections of the Los Angeles Municipal

Code (LAMC) are specifically intended to encourage retention of

---

_________________________________________________________________

CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-47

existing land forms. These include the residential planned development

supplemental district (LAMC Section 13.04), which encourages clustering

of development in order to reduce grading and preserve existing natural

terrain; the slope-density regulations (LAMC Section 17.50-E), which

restrict density on the basis of the calculated average of the ungraded

slopes at selected contours within a parcel that is proposed for

divisions of land; the hillside overlay zone (LAMC 12.21-A.17) within

which restricted densities and other requirements for neighborhood and

environmental compatibility apply; and the Specific Plan For The

Management of Flood Hazards (Ordinance 172,081), which contains hazard

protection requirements. In addition, some community plans contain land

form protection provisions. Under the California Environmental Quality

Act, project design adjustments may be required to mitigate potential

significant impacts on landform and unique site features. The

California Coastal Act requires minimization of natural landform

alteration by new development projects within the coastal zone,

including minimization of activities that would contribute to erosion

and geologic instability. Flood plain management is addressed by the

general plan Safety Element.

Scenic features protection. Scenic views or vistas are the panoramic

public view access to natural features, including views of the ocean,

striking or unusual natural terrain, or unique urban or historic

features. Public access to these views is from park lands, private and

publicly owned sites and public rights-of-way. 

The Transportation Element contains provisions regulating scenic

highways which are not regulated by specific plans. The element

contains a map of the designated scenic highways and guidelines for

protection of natural scenic features and for aesthetic enhancement of

the highways. Scenic protection provisions also are contained in the

community plans. The LAMC contains provisions which potentially protect

views. These include height limits and building setback requirements.

Some scenic highways, including the Mulholland Drive Scenic Parkway,

are regulated by specific plan ordinances that contain design

provisions intended to protect natural ridge tops, neighborhood visual

ambience, public views and other features.

The California Environmental Quality Act mandates identification and

protection of scenic resources. Identified resources include trees,

historic buildings, rock outcroppings and similar features that are

located within a designated state scenic highway. Under CEQA and the

LAMC, decision makers have been able to require retention and

protection of scenic features. 

Conclusion. Through acquisition, park development and land use planning

and development requirements the city has a major role in protecting

---