LOCALS GET SAY IN USE OF LAND NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS GAIN.Byline: KERRY Kerry, county (1991 pop. 121,894), 1,815 sq mi (4,701 sq km), SW Republic of Ireland. The county town is Tralee. Kerry consists of a series of mountainous peninsulas that extend into the Atlantic. CAVANAUGH Staff Writer Since development is one of the most contentious and pressing issues in the city, the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Planning Department and neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. have launched a pilot program to give communities a greater say in land-use decisions. Under the agreement, the Planning Department will send neighborhood councils copies of project applications and ensure that any position the councils take is considered in final decisions. Sounds simple enough. But it's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have a level of communication that residents and activists have rarely been able to achieve with the massive, complicated department. As a result, residents, planners and developers have often battled over new commercial and residential projects. Some neighborhood councils members said they hope more information and insight will lead to more consensus and better development. "With education, (neighborhood councils) will be willing to allow more development when they've they've Contraction of they have. they've have had an educated look at the project and had discussion with the applicant to reach agreement and find a middle ground," said Jacque Lamishaw, a Winnetka Neighborhood Council member and planning consultant who helped develop the pilot program. Planning Director Gail Goldberg, who took over the department a year ago today, has said neighborhood councils should have a role in designing and developing its communities. The pilot program is part of her effort to engage the community in planning its neighborhoods. "We're trying to come up with real plans communities can embrace," Goldberg said. "If we're going to create plans together, we need to have a relationship." Besides getting neighborhood councils more information about projects, the department will offer training in how to read technical planning documents, how to make effective comments on proposals, and other planning topics. The pilot program is the second agreement neighborhood councils have finalized See finalization. with city departments. Under a memorandum of understanding A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a legal document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action and may not imply a legal commitment. with the Department of Water and Power, councils now are notified and consulted before important decisions and proposed rate increases. kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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