COUNCIL PASSES ORDINANCE ON 'DENSITY BONUS' SIZE: IF LOW-INCOME UNITS ARE INCLUDED, DEVELOPERS CAN BUILD TALLER AND BIGGER.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh

Staff Writer

After four years of debate, the Los Angeles City Council approved Wednesday an ordinance that would allow developers to build taller, larger buildings if they include units for lower-income residents.

While required under a state law designed to promote affordable housing construction, the "density bonus" ordinance has angered homeowners groups that don't want to see big buildings in their neighborhoods.

To help alleviate concerns, the council tweaked the rules to protect single-family neighborhoods, including requiring developers to get special approval if they want to add extra height for a building within 50 feet of a house.

"We have been working on this to make sure communities have a stronger voice and that we protect neighborhood character," said Council President Eric Garcetti.

"This adheres to this state law that many ... don't love, but it will get us closer to achieving those three goals of making sure we protect our neighborhoods, we build affordable housing and we save taxpayers' money."

The City Council voted 13-2 in favor of the ordinance, with Tom LaBonge and Dennis Zine opposing the rule because they said it doesn't do enough to restrict building size.

Homeowners groups and neighborhood council members still said the law will allow tall, bulky, out-of-character buildings in L.A. communities.

"It's a developer's dream," said David Garfinkle with Tarzana Property Owners Association.

"You can drive around now and sometimes see buildings 20 feet taller than everything else around. With this ordinance, you're going to see a lot more of that."

Plus, he added, there is no guarantee the law will generate more affordable housing, particularly if developers continue to demolish rent-stabilized buildings and build new projects that include just a handful of affordable units.

Under a state law that took effect in 2005, California cities, including Los Angeles, are required to give such density bonuses to developers. The law overrides local zoning codes and says cities must allow developers to build larger and taller buildings, with fewer parking spaces, when they include affordable units.

Planning Director Gail Goldberg said less than 2 percent of residential apartment and condominium projects have used the density bonus, and council members downplayed the impact by noting that density bonus projects have been spread across the city.

"You can see it's not Armageddon. It is not the end of the world," said Councilman Ed Reyes, who heads the council's planning committee.

But Studio City Neighborhood Council member Lisa Sardine said the density bonus rules override the planning rules that communities have designed to preserve the character of their neighborhoods and deal with problems such as a lack of parking.

"The specific plans were painstakingly written over years and years and this throws it away."

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