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                                                  General Plan


County of Los Angeles
General Plan

This Streamlined General Plan is intended to ease user access to key components of the
County of Los Angeles General Pl&L The text included herein is a brief summary of
background materials plus flill planning guidelines. The Goals and Policies of this Stream-
lined General Plan are those current to January, 1993.

As the General Plan is updated over the next decade, portions of this document will be
replaced with new Elements and updated maps.

The following list identifies those Countywide chapters which have had comprehensive
revisions or textual amendments; the list provides the original adoption date and the date of
the last text amendment. All policy maps are current as of January, 1993.


Chapter                      Adopted                    Last Amendment


Introduction                 November25, 1980           December 29, 1987

General Goals
and Policies                 November25, 1980           January 9, 1990
Conservation and
Open Space                   November25, 1980           December 4, 1986

Land Use                     November 25, 1980          January 9, 1990
Housing                      November 2, 1989           December 17, 1992

Economic Development         November25, 1980           December29, 1987

Safety                       December6,1990
Public Facilities            November25, 1980           November 2, 1989


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                                         General Plan


                County of Los Angeles
                General Plan
                Department of Regional Planning
                320 West Temple Street
                Los Angeles, California 90012
                January 1993

                Board of Supervisors
                Edmund D. Edelman, Chainnan, Third Supervisorial District
                Gloria Molina, Supervisor, First Supervisorial District
                Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Supervisor, Second Supervisorial District
                Deane Dana, Supervisor, Fourth Supervisorial District
                Michael D. Antonovich, Supervisor, Fifth Supervisorial District

                Regional Planning Commission
                Richard C. Wulliger, Chairman
                Patricia J. Russell, Vice Chainnan
                Sadie B. Clark
                J. Paul Robinson, AIA
                Rene Santiago

                Department of Regional Planning
                James E. Hartl, MCP, Director ofFlanning
                Jon Sanabria, Chief Deputy Director
                Ted Elias, A~~ninistrator, Management and Fiscal Services
                John Schwarze, A~hnirnsfrator, Current Planning
                Rudy Lackner, A~~ninisfrator, Land Use Regulation
                Geoffrey Taylor, A~bninisfrator, Advance Planning/Infonnation Systems


½'


     County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN


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Introduction                                   I


General Goals and Policies                     G


Land Use                                      LU


Circulation                                    C


Housing                                        H


Conservation, Open Space and Recreation       OS


Noise                                          N


Safety                                         S


Public Facilities                             PF


Economic Development                          ED


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                                                            Infroduefion


                         Introduction

                         The complete text for the Introduction Chapter can be found in the
                         Background Repo~ This Chapter was adopted on November 25,
                         1980. The last text amendment was adopted on December 29,1987.


½~


        County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN


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                                                                    Introduction

               Table of Contents

               Section                                                             Page

               A. Overview..........................................................1-1

               B. Components of the General Plan....................................1-2

               C. How to Use the General Plan.......................................1-3

               D. General Plan Policy Maps..........................................1-4

               E. Relation to Other Plans, Policies and Programs....................1-4

               F. Levels of Planning................................................1-5

                    1. Couritwide and Local Guidance................................1-5
                    2. Planning Areas...............................................1-7


               G. Projections for the General Plan..................................1-7

                    1. Population Projections.......................................1-8
                    2. Housing Projections..........................................1-8
                    3. Employment Projections......................................1-li


County o~ Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN                                                  I-i


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                                                                     Introduction

                List of Tables

                Title                                                                Page

                I-i Population Projections by Planning Area...........................1-9
                1-2 Housing Projections by Planning Area.............................1-10
                1-3 Employment Projections by Planning Area..........................1-12


                List of Figures
                Title                                                                Page

                I-i Components of Los Angeles County General Plan.....................1-2
                1-2 Los Angeles County Unincorporated Areas...........................1-5
                1-3 Los Angeles County Planning Areas.................................1-7
                14 Projected Increase in Population...................................1-9
                1-5 Projected Increase in Housing Units..............................1-10
                1-6 Projected Increase in Number of Jobs.............................I-li


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN                                                   I-il


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                                                                                 Infroduction


A. Overview
                                              easier to use. For more detailed treatment
On November 25, 1980, the Board of            of issues, concepts and technical data, it is
Supervisors unamimously adopted the           necessaiy to consult the complete "Back-
countywide chapters and elements of the       gmund Report" found in a separate binder
County of Los Angeles General Plan,           (also, please refer to Components of the      _____________
including accompanying diagrams               General Plan, Section B, page 1-2).           The Streamlined
(policy maps), and firm which this                                                          General Plan is
document was prepared.                        Elements adopted prior to 1980-Noise,         intended to be
                                              Scenic Highway, Regional Recreation,          clearer and easier
This document is a streamlined version of     and Plan of Bikeways-are also included        to use
the adopted General plan in the County        in this stremlined general plan.
of Los Angeles, and is entided the
"County of Los Angeles General Plan". It      This strealnlined Plan is a unified state-
focuses on goals and policies and is          ment of public policy for use in making
intended to make the Plan clearer and         decisions on critical public issues.


A multitude of land uses intermingle on the broad Los Angeles basin.


                                                                                                   I-1


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Introduction

                   The Plan provides a framework for     The General Plan is primarily a public
                   coordinating short and medium range   interest tool for initiating and respond-
                   actions designed to meet needs and to ing to change.
                   prevent problems from becoming
                   crises.                               This streamlined version of the Plan
                                                         provides the foundation document for
                   It sets forth guidelines for how the  future updates of the General Plan. As
                   County of Los Angeles should allocate Countywide and Local Plan chapters
                   its resources in meeting identified   are adopted, they will be inserted into
                   needs over the next few decades.      the Plan. For example, when adopted,
                                                         the updated Safety Element will
                                                         replace the current Safety and Seismic
                                                         Safety Elements in the General Plan.
                        Figure I-i                       The three current Local Plan chapters
              Components of the                          that have been updated in the new for-
                                                         mat are Altadena, Walnut Paik, and
 County of Los Angeles General Plan                      East Los Angeles.
                                                         In order to facilitate a smooth transition
 County of Los Angeles                                   from the current form of the General
 General Plan                                            Plan (contained in its entirety in the
                                                         Background Report) to an updated plan
                                                         in a streamlined format, a General Plan
                                                         "Update Manual" has been prepared. It
                                                         contains guidance for making this tran-
 GENERAL PLAN                                         .  sitioninformat.


 _____________                                           B. Components of the
                                 ~                       General Plan

                                                         The General Plan consists of four docu-

                                 ~.......................ments, as shown in Figure I-i.

                                                          1. This streamlined version of the
                                                          adopted General Plan which focuses
                                                          on goals and policies and contains
                                                          Local Plans (Altadena and Walnut


1-2


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                                                                                Introduction

 Park) that meet the specifications of       titled "Background Report1t and 1'En-
 the Update Manual.                          vironmental Document"

 2. The Background Report: the com-
 plete, adopted General Plan which           C. How to Use the
 will gradually change as the substan-
 tive Plan update occurs. The Back-          General Plan
 ground Report also contains technical
 reports and data that support the
 General Plan.                               The Plan is general in nature and it is,
                                             therefore, necessary to interpret its in-
 3. Implementation: a summary of im-         tent. The goals and policies of the
 plementation programs and actions.          chapters are the primary resources to
                                             determine the intent.
 4. Environmental Document: a col-
 lection of the environmental analysis       The Plan provides general policy direc-
 and actions that support the General        tion for the fliture of the County; it is
 Plan.                                       not a detailed blueprint for action.
                                             Nevertheless, it should be used by
Each of these documents is kept in a         government for guidance in making
separate binder. It is the intent of this    day to day decisions to ensure the effec-
General Plan to provide direct access to     tive use of public resources and to flir-
the current policies and development         ther the public interest. The Plan is the
standards used most commonly in land         tool to guide decision-making related
use and development decisions. As            to overall land use direction and
the substantive General Plan update oc-      development in the county.
curs, portions and eventually all of this                                             _______________
Plan will be replaced with newer sec-        The General Plan serves as an advisory   The General Plan
tions.                                       document to provide decision-makers
                                             with a policy framework to guide         is an advisory
The County of Los Angeles General            specific incremental decisions to move   document that
Plan encompasses all State mandated          toward achievement of the Plan's         states policy to
elements and selected optional ele-          stated goals and policies. At the time   guide
                                             specific decisions are made, such as on  decision-making
ments. The Plan also includes im-                                                     for the fi'ture of
plementation programs and actions that       land use, the construction of a new      Los Angeles
are located in a separate binder entitled    highway or an urban renewal project,     County.
"Implementation" and technical sup-          the appropriate decision-making
port material found in two binders en-       authority must interpret and weigh


                                                                                            -    1-3


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Introduction

                    various Plan policies based on the best  protect the County's natural resources
                    information available at the time.       (e.g., open space, ecologically sig-
                    Thus, the General Plan neither           nificant lands, and hillsides). Thus, the
                    promises nor guarantees the achieve-     allowable number of units or intensity
                    ment of a particular goal nor strict ad- of development on a land parcel is to
                    herence to any single policy statement.  be determined using the designations
                                                             on the appropriate land use policy map.
                    The Plan's goals and policies are the
                    result of considerable citizen involve-  Units may be transferred internally in a
                    ment and professional analysis. They     project (regardless of urban or non-
                    represent a determination, based on ex-  urban designation) when geological or
                    isting data and expectations, of what    topographical data support the need.
_______________     ge~ieral course of action should be fol- The change is for the puipose of better
                    lowed to achieve the kind of environ-    design and permitted only when it does
General Plan        ment County citizens wish to be          not increase the number of units or af-
policy maps are a   realized in the future.                  fect health and safety detrimentally.
graphic
representation of   The text, which indicates policy direc-
policies.           tion, and the policy maps, which reflect E. Relation to Other Plans
                    location and pattern, combine to show
                    the basic intent of the Plan.            Policies and Pmgrams


                    D. General Plan Policy                   `IlLos Angeles County, special dis-
                                                             tricts make many decisions related to
                    Maps                                     urban services and facilities and collec-
                                                             tively appropriate large sums for capi-
                                                             tal improvements.
                    General Plan maps are graphic state-
                    ments of policy, and are intended to be  The General Plan provides these dis-
                    general, not precise, policy statements. tricts with information on the develop-
                                                             ment potential of areas in the County
                    The putpose of the Plan policy maps is   and advises them of County policy.
                    to express textual policy in diagram     Regional agencies, such as the
                    form, and to depict the general distribu- Southern California Rapid Transit Dis-
                    tion, location and extent of the uses of trict, the Metropolitan Water District,
                    the land in Los Angeles County. The      and the Southern California Associa-
                    designations placed within the policy    tion of Governments, are responsible
                    lines reflect infrastructure, hazard, and for coordinating with city and county
                    resource limitations of the County and   governments on policies and programs.


1-4


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                                                                      Introduction

The decisions of these agencies often       Countywide chapters influence, and are
affect the County's urban form and          influenced by, suirounding areas. Such
development.                                issues as freeway and roadway align-
                                            ments, for instance, require coordina-
State and federal agencies have taken       tion with other counties and cities
an active part in environmental protec-     located within Los Angeles County.
tion and resource conservation. Their       Although the County's Plan has
involvement has had an increasing im-       regulatory impacts on the type of
pact on the County's population             development within unincorporated
growth, urban development, and hous-        areas, it also depends on and provides
ing and transportation policies. The        decision-making tools for cities and sur-
General Plan is an instrument for           rounding counties (Figure 1-2).
making local policy known to higher
levels of government and for estab-         The Countywide Chapters and Ele-
lishing policy positions on issues of       ments and their dates of adoption are
regional, state and national significance.  listed on the following page.


            of Planning                                        Figure 1-2
r. IA~veiS                                        Los Angeles County Unincorporated Areas


1. Countywide and Local
Guidance

The General Plan provides land use
guidance at two levels: 1) countywide;
and 2) local. The adopted countywide
elements set regional direction for land
use decisions while adopted "Local                                    .. -.-.
Plans'1 (`)reviously referred to as
Areawide or Community Plans)
provide focused attention on a smaller                              -
scale. The countywide chapters and
                                                     ½
elements constitute a collective policy               ½ ½
                                                                   w
statement addressing issues of coun
tywide or regional importance that can
not be resolved at the local level.                                      ifi Unincorporated Areas
                                                                         z] Incorporated Areas


                                                                                      1-5


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Introduction

                        * Introduction (11,25/1980)          * Hacienda Heights (adopted 1978)
                        * General Goals and Policies         * Rowland Heights (adopted 1981)
                         (11/25/1980)                        * Santa Monica Mountains
                        * Land Use Element (11/25/1980)        (adopted 1981)
                        * Circulation Element (combining     * Santa Catalina (adopted 1982)
                         the Transportation Element          * Marina del Rey/Ballona (adopted
_____________            adoptedll/25/1980,the Scenic          1982)
                         Highways Element adopted            * Diamond Bar (adopted 1983)
The two levels of        1/30/1975, and the Plan of          * Catalina Island (adopted 1983)
planning that the        Bikeways adopted 9/18/1975)         * Santa Clarita Valley (adopted
General Plan            * 12/4/86 Housing Element              1977 and updated 1984)
addresses are
"Countywide" and        * (12/4/1986)                        * Antelope Valley (adopted 1985)
                         Conservation, Open Space and        * Altadena (adopted 1986)
"Local ".                Recreation Element (combining       * Walnut Park (adopted 1986)
                         the adopted Conservation and        * East Los Angeles (adopted 1978
                         Open Space Element adopted            and updated in 1988)
                         11/25/1980 and the Regional         * Castaic Corridor (completed
                         Recreation Areas Plan adopted         1988)
                         3/30/1965)                          * Westmont Community (initiated
                        * NoiseElement(1/30/1975)              1988)
                        * Safety Element (combining the
                         adopted Safety and Seismic        There are, in addition, a number of
                         Safety Elements, both adopted on  other local and community planning
                         1/30/1975)                        programs envisioned in the coming
                        * Public Facilities Element        years. Upon adoption, such plans wrn
                         (11/25/1980 and previously en-    be formally incoxporated as Local Plan
                         titled "Water and Waste Manage-   Chapters of the General Plan.
                         ment Element")
                        * Economic Development Element     Adopted local plans establish detailed
                         (7/21/1987)                       standards and criteria tailored to condi-
                                                           tions within the community, and are
                     Local Plans constitute the primary    consistent with the general countywide
                     tools for guiding decisions relative to provisions. In those instances where a
                     local land use and development pat-   decision involves both local and
                     terns.                                regional concerns, it is the countywide
                                                           component that sets the broad policy
                     As of 3une 1988, the Local Plans      parameters while local plans provide
                     adopted or in preparation include the more specific direction. The local
                     following:                            plans are refmements of some of the


1-6


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                                                                           Introduction

more important regional issues that the   G. Projections for the
countywide chapters and elements ad-                                                   Projections rely
dress.                                    General Plan                                 on an analysis of
                                                                                       data. Based on
                                                                                       this analysis, one
2. Planning Areas                         The growth policies of the General           possible view of
                                          Plan consist of a set of projections for     the~ture Los
The General Plan also contains            population, housing, and employment.         Angeles County is
                                          These projections do not predict the fli-    selected. The
guidelines for major planning areas       ture. Rather, they represent a selection     projections
which'iIik countywide policies to         of one among many possible alterna-          provide a basis for
those of cities and unincorporated com-   tive flitures, based on a careflil analysis  updating the
munities. The planning areas include      about what may happen in the years           General Plan.
the following:                            ahead.

  * SanFernando
  * Burbanl~~Glendale
  * West San Gabriel Valley                               Figure 1-3
  * East San Gabriel Valley                      Los Angeles County Planning Areas
  * Malibu/Santa Monica Mountains
  * West
  * Central
  * EastCentral
  * Southeast                                                              ANTE~OpE~Y
  * South
                                                           -.  I
  * Southwest
  * Antelope Valley
  * Santa Clarita Valley
  * National Forests
  * The Channel Islands

The Major Planning Areas are shown
in Figure 1-3.


                                                                                      Planning Area Boundary
                                                                                -~    National Forest Boundary


                                                                                                  1-7


PAGE 14 Show Image
Introduction

               The projections are based on an              8,209,000; it is projected to be ap-
               analysis of existing conditions, land        proximately 9,900,000 by the year
               suitability, and significant                 2010. The overall increase is projected
               demographic, economic, housing, and          to occur largely due to natural in-
               land use trends. The trends, in turn,        creases in population.
               are modified by policies found
               throughout the Plan and intended to          Migration is the most volatile and dif-
               alter detrimental conditions or              ficult of the components of population
               strengthen favorable trends and condi-       change to predict. While in-migration
               tions that are beneficial to the public.     has played a significant role in the
               Consequently, the projections ap-            recent growth cycle of the past decade,
               proximate what may occur if achieve-         in-migration is expected to slow over
               ment is made in realizing the objectives     the next few years and turn to a net out-
               and policies of the Plan.                    migration by the end of the projection
                                                            period.
               The technical task of projecting growth
               into the future is not an exact science.     Figure 14 depicts the planning areas
               There is no such thing as a "right" or       which will experience the greatest ab-
               "correct" projection, in the sense that it   solute population growth. Table I-i
               will be an accurate prediction of what       shows the population projections by
               will actually occur in the future.           Planning Area.

               Figures 14,1-5 and 1-6 (found on pages
               1-9,1-10 and I-li) highlight the six         2. Housing Projections
               planning areas with the largest absolute
               changes anticipated, expressed as a per-     Housing projections for Los Angeles
               centage of total projected Countywide        County (Figure 1-5) were influenced by
               growth. Accompanying tables (Tables          the population projections. The projec-
               1-1,1-2 and 1-3) detail projected growth     tions indicate a net increase of 679,000
               for each of the 14 planning areas. A         housing units by the year 2010. The
               notable aspect of planning area growth       net change reflects a long4erm trend
               is the wide variation in percentage of       toward medium density housing con-
               change among them.                           struction and the policy of promoting a
                                                            more concentrated urban form. Table
                                                            1-2 shows housing projections by Plan-
               1. Population Projections                    fling Area.

               The 1987 estimated population for Los
               Angeles County is apprbximately


1-8


PAGE 15 Show Image
                                                                    Introduction

                              Figure 14
                          Los Angeles County

         Proj ected Increase in Population                               Figure 1-4
                                                                         highlights the
                             (1987-2010)                                 areas of largest
                              San Fernaido                               population growth
                               168,000                                   as a percentage of
                               (10%)
       E. San ~briei Valley            Antdope Valley                    total County
            250,000                                                      growth. Table I-i
             (15%)                       (9%)
               Central                   Santa Clarita Valley            shows a wide
               217,700                      150,000                      range (9.1% to
               (13%)                         (9%)                        125.0%) ofanti-
                                                                         pated percentage
                      (9%)           Other                               change among
                                     597,300                             planning areas.
                                     (36%)


                                       Table I-i
                    Population Projections by Planning Area
                                       1987-2010

                                                           Change in   1987-2010
                                                           No. of        Percent
Planning Area                 1987         2010            Persons       Change

Santa Clarita Valley         120,000      270,000          150,000       125.0%
Antelope Valley              146,000      305,000          159,000       108.9%
San Fernando                 867,000     1,035,000         168,000       19A%
BurbanklGlendale             616,000      705,000          89,000        14A%
West San Gabriel Valley      758,000      880,000          122,000       16.1%
East San Gabriel Valley      785,000     1,035,000         250,000       31.8%
Malibu/Santa Monica Muis.     65,000      100,000          35,000        53.8%
West                         424,000      505,000          81,000        19.1%
Central                     1,582,000    1,800,000         217,700       13.8%
East Central                 755,000      855,000          100,000       13.2%
Southeast                    644,000      745,000          101,000       15.7%
South                        711,000      860,000          149,000       21.0%
Southwest                    733,300      800,000          67,000         9.1%
channel Islands               2,700        5,0001           2,300        85.2%
Los Angeles County          8,209,000   9,900,000w       1,691,000       20.6%

1   The projection for the Channel Islands assumes that all growth will take place on Santa Catalina Island.
2   The baseline data for these projections includes adjustments since 1980 for undocwnented aliens; it is
    esiunated that almost SOO,Oo0 such persons were counted as part of the 1980 Census.


                                                                                      1-9


PAGE 16 Show Image
Introduction

                                                            1-5

Figure 1-5 indi-                               IAs Angeles County

cates the areas of                Projected Increase in Housing
greatest housing                                        (1987-2010)
growth in relation                                        San Fernando
to the County
total. Table 1-2                     E. San Gabriel Valley       Antelope

shows an even                          8(e)                        63(;~%)
wider range of                          Ceutmi                     Santa Clarita Valley
planning area                           92,2w                        55,9..
change (11.1% to                        (14%)                         (8%)
149.1%) than with
population growth.
                                                              244w"
                                                               (35%)
                                          Table 1-2
                          Housing Unit Projections by Planning Area
                                          1987-2010
                                                                   Change     1987-2010
                                                                   in No.       Percent
   Planning Area                1987          2010                 of Units     Change

   Santa Clarita Valley        37,500         93,400               55,900       149.1%
   AntelopeValley              55,700        118,700               63,000       113.1%
   SanFernando                334,500        409,100               74,600       22.3%
   Burbanl~~Glendale          257,800        300,000               42,200       16A%
   W. San Gabriel Valley      271,000        320,000               49,000       18.1%
   E. San Gabriel Valley      248,000        333,900               85,900       34.6%
   MalibuJSanta Monica Mtns.   23,800         37,300               13,500       56.7%
   West                       204,400        240,500               36,100       17.7%
   Central                    592,200        684,400               92,200       15.6%
   EastCentral                217,600        249,300               31,700       14.6%
   Southeast                  214,900        253,400               38,500       17.9%
   South                      274,300        337,300               63,000       23.0%
   Southwest                  290,200        322,600               32,400       11.2%
   channel Islands              1,600          2,600                1,000       62.5%
   Los Angeles County        3,023,500      3,702,500              679,000      22.5%


1-10


PAGE 17 Show Image
                                                                  Introduction

                            Los Angeles County

        Proj ected Increase in Number of Jobs                         Figure 1-6
                                                                      displays the areas
                             (1987-2010)                              of highest employ-
                                                                      ment growth in
                           ~ San Gabdel Valley                        relation to the
                             209,~                                    County
                             (14%)      W San Gabdel Valley                 total.

                 EIStCentI~I                                          Table 1-3 indi-
                 119,".
                 (8%)                       San Fernando              cates a variation
               Saudaeast                     1'8(13~                  in employment

               1(4'i~".%)                                             growth (73% to
                         South                                        246.9%) that far
                 15.,~                                                exceeds the ranges
                                        517,8w                        for eitherpopula-
                                        (36%)                         tion or housing.


3. Employment Projections

It is estimated that the number of jobs
in Los Angeles County will increase by
1,471,000 through the year 2010
(Figure 1-6). Job projections were allo-
cated to planning areas Crable 1-3, page
I-i 2) on the basis of local trends in job
growth (which indicate demand for
jobs) and the availability of land (sites
or locations) for jobs, both of which
were influenced by Plan policies. Rela-
tive changes in populatioMiousing and
employment at the planning area level
will have an important intact on even-
tual jobsIWousing balance patterns
within the County.


                                                                                 I-li


PAGE 18 Show Image
Introduction

                                         Table 1-3
                    Employment Projections by Planning Area
                                        1987-2010
                                                            Change      1987-2010
                                                            in No.        Percent
   Planning Area                1987        2010            of Jobs       Change

   Santa Clarita Valley        32,000       111,000         79,000        246.9%
   Antelope Valley             53,000       153,000         100,000       188.7%
   SanFernando                361,000       559,000         198,000       54.8%
   Burbanl~~Glendale          309,000       395,000         86,000        27.8%
   W. San Gabriel Valley      344,000       475,000         131,000       38.1%
   E. San Gabriel Valley      298,000       507,000         209,000       70.1%
   Malibu/Santa Monica Mtns.   19,000       47,000          28,000        147A%
   West                       276,000       328,000         52,000         18.8%
   Central                   1,074,000    1,152,000         78,000         7.3%
   East Central               454,000       573,000         119,000       26.2%
   Southeast                  279,000       425,000         146,000       52.3%
   South                      357,000       507,000         150,000       42.0%
   Southwest                  451,000       544,000         93,000        20.6%
   channellslands               1,800        3,600           1,800        100.0%
   Los Angeles County        4,308,800    5,779,600       1,470,800       34.1%


1-12


PAGE 19 Show Image
                                 General Goals and Policies


                General Goals and Policies
                The complete text for the General Goals and Policies
                Chapter can be found in the Background Repoit This
                Chapter was adopted on November 25,1980. The last text
                amendment was adopted on January 9,1990.


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN


PAGE 20 Show Image
                                            General Goals and Policies

               Table of Contents

               Section                                                        Page


               A. Introduction..................................................G-1

               B. Background....................................................G-I
                    1. Location and Natural Setting.............................0-1
                    2. Urban Character..........................................0-1
                    3.ThePeople.................................................0-2
                    4. The Economy..............................................0-2
                    5. Recent Trends............................................0-2

               C. General Plan Policy Maps......................................0-3
                    1. General Development Policy Map...........................0-3
                    2. UrbanFormPolicyMap.......................................0-3

               D. Goals and Policies............................................0-4

               E.Glossary......................................................G-lO


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN                                              G-i


PAGE 21 Show Image
                                                  General Goals and Policies

A. Introduction                              fire dangers. Finally, the proximity of
                                             plains and rugged mountains coupled
                                             with heavy seasonal rainfall create the
Goals are a link between needs and           threat of flooding. Despite such
policies and implementation. The             liabilities, a 1980 national survey
general goals express the overall direc-     ranked the county in the top third of 90
tion of the General Plan and its ele-        major metropolitan areas in terms of its
ments. The locations of all features         quality of life.
and boundaries shown on the policy
maps are general and diagrammatic in
character. The scale of countywide           2. Urban Character
policy maps do not allow small parcels
to be shown clearly. Thus, the charac-       Los Angeles is distinguished from
ter of areas less than 50 acres in size is   other large metropolitan areas by its ex-
not generally determinable from the          tensive freeway system, a result of the
maps. For these reasons, the policy
maps should not be interpreted literally.    public's commitment to the
                                             automobile; a great variety in ornamen-
                                             tal vegetation introduced from around
                                             the world; and its orientation toward
B. Background                                outdoor living symbolized in part by
                                             the fme system of public beaches.
                                             Relative newness and modernity are
1. Location and Natural Setting              major aspects of the image of the urban
                                             ares
The County of Los Angeles has a rich         Nearly all of the region has been built
and diverse natural environment whose
beauty has attracted people and, with        smce 1900, and over 70% of the urban
                               county's      development has occurred since 1940.
them, new development. The                   The distribution of development differs
temperate Mediterranean climate and          from most other large American urban
varied landscape also support diverse
                                             areas in that the county 5 suburbs tend
biological resources.
                                             to be more intensely developed, while
                                             inner city areas are relatively less inten-
Part of this complex natural environ-        sely developed. Single family housing
ment includes liabilities. The land is       has been characteristic of the Los An-
subject to seismic activity and              geles urban form, but its low profile is
peculiarities in terrain make the county     punctuated by numerous high intensity
susceptible to air pollution. The arid
climate results in potential water           centers, a growing number of which
shortages and, in the hillsides, wildland    contain clusters of high rise buildings.


                                                                                     G-1


PAGE 22 Show Image
General Goals and Policies

              These clusters make Los Angeles a          Today, the county has a diversified
              multi-centered metropolis.                 economy with strong manufacturing,
                                                         services and trade sectors, internation-
                                                         al business and finance, coinmunica-
              3. The People                              tion (television and movies),
                                                         transportation, and electronics and
              The cultural variety of the people is a    aerospace).
              primary influence on the character of
              the county. Influenced by a number of
              great migratory flows, the more than       5. Recent Trends
              eight rnilljon people are a unique and
              exciting mixture. Some of the major        Some of the key trends that can be fol-
              ethnic and racial communities include:     lowed in the county relate to jobs, hous-
              Mexican, Black, Anglo, Chinese,            ing, transportation, resources and
              3ewish, 3apanese, Cuban, Korean, and       environmental considerations.
              Filipino. The cultural distinctions, in-
              come differences, occupational ex-         Long term job growth has continued at
              periences and educational backgrounds      a healthy pace and business firm out-
              greatly increase the rich human diver-     migration has declined. New business
              sity and social values in the county.      formation, expansion of existing in-
                                                         dustries and in-migration of finns have
                                                         shown an increase during the late
              4. The Economy                             seventies, although an apparent
                                                         shortiage of industrial lands has
              The county has the second largest          emerged. Inflation has had a far reach-
              metropolitan economy in the nation         ing impact and has reduced the living
              and one of the largest markets for         standards for many people with fixed
              goods and services in the world. Major     incomes. Unemployment has remained
              features of the economy include: one of    a serious problem among minorities.
              the world's greatest concentration on
              high technology industry supported by      Housing supply has increased sig-
                  advanced research and education-       nificantly, although the volume of con-
              many                                       struction is dramatically lower than
              al institutions; a high proportion of
                                                         during the boom years of the 1950's.
              employment concentrated in services,       A trend reflecting a decline in
              trades and professions; rapid innova-      household size means that substantially
              tion and change; and an emphasis on
              education and research as economic ac-     more housing is needed to serve ap-
              tivities.                                  proximately the same level of popula-
                                                         tion. The cost of housing has risen


G-2


PAGE 23 Show Image
                                                  General Goals and Policies

sharply and deterioration of housing        C. General Plan Policy
built in the 1940's and 1950's is ac-
celerating; thus, many low and              Maps
moderate income households cannot
fmd adequate housing.                       These maps are based on statements of

The auto remains the principal mode of      general policy, plan projections and
travel in the county, but the costs of      adopted plans for both cities and unin-
buying and operating a car are increas      corporated areas. They indicate
ing. New freeway construction has vir-      geographic aspects of policy and are
                                            general and diagrammatic in character.
tually ceased. The number of people         The Plan maps for General Goals and
needing public transportation is grow-      Policies chapter are located at the end
ing, but the quality of service remains     of this chapter. A filil explanation of
low in many areas.
                                            map legends appears on the back of
The era of cheap, abundant resources is     each map.
ending. Prirne developable land is
growing scarce and expensive. The
price of other key resources is also in-    1. General Development Policy
creasing. Old environmental problems        Map
have persisted as new ones have sur-
faced. Air pollution remains a critical     This map supports the text by indicat-
issue despite improvements in condi-        ing areas in which urban development
tions. Limited headway has been made        is appropriate and those which should
in reducing urban blight. Earthquakes,      remain non-urban until the year 2010.
oil spills, mudslides, floods, and fires    Within the urban areas, designations in-
have demonstrated the urban area's vul-     dicate where rehabilitation and recy-
nerability to natural and man-caused        cling are encouraged; where
disasters. Urban development has            maintenance of existing development
encroached upon natural areas and the       character is supported; and where new
coastline.                                  development through infilling or urban
                                            expansion is appropriate.


                                            2. Urban Form Policy Map

                                            This map establishes plan policy on the
                                            organization and panem of the
                                            metropolitan area. It deals with the


                                                                                  G-3


PAGE 24 Show Image
General Goals and Policies

                    relative magnitude and character of           5. Promote a balanced mix of dwell-
                    centers, the regional core, linear ac-        ing unit types to meet present and fli-
                    tivity areas and other form features.         ture needs, with emphasis on family
                                                                  owned, moderate density dwelling
                                                                  units (twinhomes, townhouses and
                    D. Goals and Policies                         garden condominiums at garden
                                                                  apartment densities).
                    Equal Opportunity                             6. Promote open and free choice of
                                                                  housing for all.
                    Goal: Full and equal opportunity.
                                                                  7. Promote the provision of an ade-
                    Policies                                      quate supply of housing by location,
                                                                  type and price.
                       1. Eradicate discrimination in hous-
                       ing, jobs and income, education,           8. Promote improved economic and
                       recreation, and other facets of            employment opportutities for
                       living, and guarantee flill and equal      youth, ethnicfracial minorities,
                       opportunity in order to promote in-        women, the handicapped and the
                       dividual and group development.            elderly.

______________         2. Improve employment and educa-           9. Encourage improvements in job
                       tional opportunities for minorities        skills to enhance opportunities for
The General Plan       and the disadvantaged through af-          the underemployed.
Policy Maps for        firmative action programs.
General Goals                                                   Environmental Protection
and Policies           3. Maximize individual and family
provide an overall     self-support and reduce the need for     Goal: Conservation of resources and
view of the            institutional treatment of needy, dis-   environmentalprotection.
developmentpat-        abled, and handicapped people by
tern and form for      providing adequate facilities and ser-   Policies
the~ture.              vices in the community.
                                                                  10. Encourage cultural and social
                       4. Emphasize the location of low           diversity and the preservation of the
                       and moderate income housing                cultural heritage of Los Angeles
                       within easy commuting range of             County.
                       multipurpose and single purpose
                       centers with high concentrations of
                       employment.


G-4


PAGE 25 Show Image
                                             General Goals and Policies

11. Encourage the maintenance and
enhancement of cultural values and
the ethnic variety of communities.

12. Accept and plan for a level and
rate of population and economic
growth consistent with improved en-
vironmental quality and the
availability of air, water and energy
resources.

13. Promote a distribution ofpopula-
tion consistent with service system
capacity, resource availability, en-
vironmental limitations and acces-
sibility.                                Amenities such as this quiet lake should be protected where possible.

14. Direct urban development and
revitalization efforts to protect         19. Restore and protect air quality
natural and man-made amenities            through the control of industrial and
and to avoid severe hazard areas,         vehicular emissions, improved land
such as flood prone areas, active         use management, energy conserva-
fault zones, steep hillsides, land-       tion and tran~ortation planning.
slide areas and fire hazard areas.
                                          20. Promote more effective recy-
15. Protect areas that have sig-          cling and reuse of resources, espe-
nificant natural resources and scenic     cially those that are nonrenewable.
values, including significant ecologi-
cal areas, the coastal zone and prime     21. Stress the development of com-
agricultural lands.                       munity paiks particularly in areas of
                                          the greatest deficiency, and take ad-
16. Protect cultural heritage resour-     vantage of opportunities to preserve
ces.                                      large natural and scenic areas.

17. Conserve energy to ensure ade-        22. Promote the efficient use of land
quate supplies for future use.            through a more concentrated pattern
                                          of urban development, including the
18. Conserve the available supply of      focusing of new urban growth into
water and protect water quality.          areas of suitable land.


                                                                              G-5


PAGE 26 Show Image
General Goals and Policies

                          23. Ensure that development in non-           24. Encourage the development of
                          urban areas is compatible with rural          ethnic community theme centers
                          lifestyles, does not necessitate the          that would preserve and enhance cul-
                          expansion of urban service systems,           tural diversity.
                          and does not cause significant
                          negative environmental impacts or             25. Support the development of a
                          subject people and property to                tran~)ortation system that wrn
                          serious hazards.                              make a positive contribution to the
                                                                        improvement of air quality.

                                                                        26. Promote the development and
                                                                        use of new and improved water and
  $                                                                     waste management technology.

                                                                  4  Revitalization

                                                                     Goal: Urban areas revitalized.

                                                                     Policies

                                                                        27. Promote a reversal of the trend
                                                                        toward population losses in older
                                                                        urbanareas.

                                                                        28. Revitalize declining portions of
                                                                        existing urban development, with
                                                                        particular attention to deteriorated
                                                                        industrial and low income residen-
                                                                        tial areas.

                                                                        29. Maintain and conserve sound ex-
                                                                        isting development.

                                                                        30. Promote compatible, environ-
                                                                        mentally sensitive development of
                                                                        the by-passed vacant land in urban
                                                                        areas.
Ethnic centers such as the fapaneseAmerican Cultural and Community      31. Give priority to the development
Center are encouraged.                                                  and enhancement of regional centers


G-6


PAGE 27 Show Image
                                              General Goals and Policies

located in, or near, high priority         39. Emphasize the preservation, con-
revitalization and heavy main-             servation, and maintenance of stable
tenance areas.                             residential areas.

32. Promote the preservation and en-       40. Promote the rehabilitation and
hancement of landmarks, sites, and         revitalization of deteriorating neigh-
areas of cultural, historical, ar-         borhoods.
chaeological and urban design sig-
niiicance.                                 41. Encourage the provision of ade-
                                           quate rental housing.
33. Protect and enhance the visual
uniqueness of natural edges and en-
courage superior design of major
entryways.

34. Preserve sound residential areas
and protect them from intrusion of
incompatible uses.

35. Increase the availability of low
and moderate income housing and
encourage its distribution
throughout the urban area.

36. Emphasize development of an
improved public transportation sys       A once declining area has become a regional governmental and cultural
tern that will support urban             hub.
revitalization.

37. Give priority to upgrading exist-      42. Foster rehabilitation rather than
ing facilities and services in areas       replacement of housing units
needing or undergoing revitalization       wherever economically feasible and
or lacking adequate facilities.            consistent with neighborhood plans.

38. Encourage the retention of jobs      Economy and Employment
and investments in older urban areas
and prevent losses to other counties,    Goal: A strong, diversified economy
regions and states.                      andft£ll emplQvment.


                                                                                 G-7


PAGE 28 Show Image
General Goals and Policies

                     Policies                                  49. Encourage the development of
                                                               regional multipuxpose centers that
                       43. Maintain a balance between in-      provide a diversity of public and
                       creased intensity of development        pfivate services to the communities
                       and the capacity of needed facilities   they serve.
                       such as transportation, water and
                       sewage systems.                         50. Encourage the location of
                                                               employment opportwiities in
                       44. Ensure that new development in      regional centers and in the regional
                       urban expansion areas will occur in     core and linear activity areas.
                       a manner consistent with stated plan
                       policies and will pay for the expan-    51. Encourage the location of
                       sion costs that it generates. Cibis is  medium and high density housing in
                       not intended to preclude the public     close proximity to regional multi-
                       subsidization of low and moderate       purpose centers.
                       income housing which may require
                       special consideration.)                 52. Promote the development of an
                                                               improved public transportation sys-
                       45. Focus intensive urban uses in an    tem to link regional centers.
                       interdependent system of activity
                       centers located to effectively          53. Emphasize the location of low
                       provide services throughout the         and moderate income housing
                       urban area and supported by ade-        within easy commuting range of
                       quate public transportation facilities. miultipurpose and single purpose
                                                               centers with high concentrations of
______________         46. Foster community identity and       employment.
                       improve environmental quality by
Policies help          the compatible interrelation of a sys-  54. Promote the development of
dfrect resources       tem of centers, major transportation    community transit systems that
towards areas that     facilities and open space areas.        would link residential areas to ser-
need special aaen-                                             vice and job centers, and serve as a
tion or towards        47. Promote the recognition and or-     feeder system to the public transpor-
areas that need to     derly development of the regional       tation system.
be maintained.         core and linear activity areas.
                                                               55. Promote the development of in-
                       48. Maintain and reinforce the multi-   temal circulation systems in multi-
                       focused pattern of regional linear ac-  purpose centers.
                       tivity areas and centers.
                                                               56. Upgrade the existing road sys-
                                                               tem in a manner consistent with the


G-8


PAGE 29 Show Image
                                                        General Goals and Policies

       policies and strategies of the plan          65. Promote jobs within commuting
       for resource protection and urban            range of urban residential areas in
       development.                                 order to reduce commuting time,
                                                    save energy, reduce air pollution
       57. Promote the completion of gaps           and improve public convenience.
       or missing segments in partially
       completed freeways.                          66. Improve communication be-
                                                    tween government and citizens by
       58. Provide for more efficient multi-        soliciting greater citizen involve-
       modal use of the current freeway             ment in public affairs, and by in-
       system.                                      creasing the sensitivity and
                                                    responsiveness of government to
       59. Encourage the development and            citizen needs and values.
       improvement of community level
       transit systems.                             67. Promote an equitable distribu-
                                                    tion of the costs and benefits of
       60. Promote the filil use of existing        governmental actions.
       service systems in order to gain
       maximum benefit from previous                68. Improve the effectiveness of in-
       public investments.                          tergovemmental coordination.

       61. Extend new urban facilities and          69. Maximize the coordination of
       services only where new urban                public and private activities for so-
       development is planned and per-              cial, economic and environmental
       mitted.                                      improvements.

       62. Improve the quality and acces-           70. Encourage the annexation of
       sibility of critical urban services in-      small urban unincorporated islands
       cluding crime control, health,               that lie within cities' spheres of in-
       recreational and educational ser-            fluence.
       vices.

       63. Maintain high quality emergen-
       cy response services.

       64. Encourage a strong diversified
       economy that will provide business
       opportunities, an adequate number
       of jobs for this county's labor force
__     and an improved standard of living.


                                                                                          G-9


PAGE 30 Show Image
General Goals and Policies

               E. Glossary                                 General Plan
                                                           The Plan is an officially adopted state-
                                                           ment of public policy. It contains a
               Blight                                      statement of development policies and
               A visible manifestation of deteriorat-      includes diagrams and text setting
               ing or dilapidated urban environment        forth objectives, principles, standards
               caused by such factors as improper and      and plan proposals.
               misused maintenance. On the com-
               munity level, blight is syit~~tomatic of    Goal
               negative environmental and social con-      A general expression of an ideal or
               ditions, such as unemployment, over-        value toward which effort is directed
               crowding and poor public and private        for achievement; a long teim end state
               services.                                   or target.

               Development                                 Inner City
               The establishment of an activity, use       That part of a metropolitan area which
               or flinction on a given unit of land,       contains the historic center of the area.
               either urban or non-urban in character.     It usually contains the oldest and the
                                                           most mtensively developed parts of the
               Element                                     metropolis. In the case of older cities,
               A major component of the General            it is characterized by the presence of,
               Plan. California law now requires the       or the need for, substantial rehabilita-
               following mandatory elements: land          tion and recycling activities.
               use, circulation, housing, conservation,
               open space, noise and safety.               Maintenance
                                                           The making of nonnal repairs to a
               Environment                                 building to keep it in good repair and
               The surn of all natural and man-made        sound condition, generally without
               conditions external to an organisin or      major structural alterations, or replace-
               comrnunity, which influences its            ment of major Systems such as electri-
               growth and development.                     cal wiring or plumbing.

               Expansion Cost                              Non-urban
               The capital cost of constructing the        A way of life characterized by living
               smallest facility acceptable to the ser-    in a non-urban or agricultural environ-
               vice provider. The expansion costs for      ment at low densities without typical
               schools, fire, sewerage, and libraries      urban services. Urban services and
               are included in the Development             facilities not normally found in niral
               Monitoring System.                          areas mclude curbs, gutters and
                                                           sidewallls; street lighting, landscaping


G-1O


PAGE 31 Show Image
                                                  General Goals and Policies

and traffic signalization; public solid     Resource
waste disposal, integrated water and        Any material, structure, process or con-
sewerage systems; mass public transit;      dition considered to have value. It
and commercial facilities dependent on      may be man-made or natural, such as
large consumer volumes such as              water, land, air, climate, minerals,
regional shopping centers, sorts            structures or facilities.
stadia and theaters. For the plan maps,
residential densities less than one         Revitalization
dwelling unit per acre are generally        A comprehensive approach to the
considered rural.                           problem of urban decline, involving
                                            the elimination of adverse social condi-
Policy                                      tions and blight in a neighborhood ar
An expression of government commit-         area and the creation of community as-
ment to a course of action intended to      sets and positive social conditions
reach a goal or goals.                      through recycling, rehabilitation, con-
                                            servation and maintenance actions sup-
Program                                     ported by social and economic
Specific action or a schedule of actions    improvements.
to carry out a policy or policies.
                                            Rural (See Non-Urban)
Projection
An estimate of possible filture condi-      Standard
tions and growth levels based on past       A quantitative decision, rule or norm.
performance, assumptions about the fil-
ture, or policies.                          Urban
                                            A way of life characterized by living
Rehabilitation                              in an area where the intensively man-
The making of major alterations to a        altered physical environment
structure, or the replacement of major      predominates over the natural. The
portions of a structure such as electd-     urban physical environment includes:
cal and plumbing systems. Rehabilita-       industry, trade, service and profes-
tion may be carried out on a selective      sional occupations and the presence of
or wholesale basis. The concept of          collective or public service systems
rehabilitation implies that the condi-      (See Non-Urban). An urban environ-
tion of a structure endangers the           ment is usually achieved when there is
health, safety and well-being of oc-        a cluster of population of 2,500 or
cupants and users; and that it is           more persons at a density of not less
economically feasible to correct the        than 1,000 persons per square mile.
condition by repairs.                       For plan maps, residential densities


                                                                                   G-11


PAGE 32 Show Image
General Goals and Policies

               equal to or greater than one dwelling
               unit per acre are generally considered
               urban.

               Urban Form
               The physical arrangement of urban
               areas including the three dimensional
               pattern of built and open areas.


G-12


PAGE 33 Show Image
                                                             Land Use


                   Land Use
                   The complete text for the Land Use Chapter can be found in the
                   Background Repoit Appendix A and Appendix B of this Chapter are
                   direct text reproductions of the General Conditions and Standards for
                   Development and the Hillside Management/Performance Review
                   Procedure located in the Background Report This Chapter was adopted
                   on November 25,1980. The last text amendment was adopted on
                   January 9, 1990.


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN


PAGE 34 Show Image
                                                                      Land Use

               Table of Contents

               Section                                                         Page


               A.Introduction..................................................L~1

               B.Background....................................................LU-i
                    1.Trends...................................................LU-i
                    2. Decision-Making.........................................LU-2

               C. General Plan Policy Maps.....................................LU-3

               D. Goals and Policies...........................................LU-3

               E. Land Use Glossary............................................L~9

               Appendix A: General Conditions and Standards for Development
               (Unincorporated Areas)..........................................LU-Ai

               Appendix B: Hillside ManagementlPerformance Review Procedures
               (Unincorporated Areas)..........................................LU-Bi


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN                                           LU-i


PAGE 35 Show Image
                                                                          Land Use

A. Introduction                             1. Trends
The Land Use Element sets forth coun-       Within established urban areas, be-
tywide policy for the general location      tween 1970 and 1975, relatively high
and intensity of land use. The Element      intensity uses became the dominant
serves as a tool for coordinating ~ture     form of new development. Detached
development and revitalization plans of     single family homes and other low in-
both the public and private sectors.        tensity uses, however, continued to be
The policies of the Element support the     the dominant form of new development
countywide General Plan policy of en-       m outlying urban fringe areas, constitut-
couraging a more concentrated urban         ing over 75% of new urban expansion.
pattern through the revitalization of
deteriorating urban areas, infilling of     A diverging trend of centralized and
bypassed lands and focusing new urban       decentralized development has oc-
development in the most suitable loca-      curred in the past decade. Centraliza-
tions.                                      tion occurs through both infilling of
                                            vacant parcels and recycling of older
The Land Use Element calls for a dis-
tribution of use intensities within urban   P

PAGE 36
Show Image
Land Use


                     The responsibility for positive planning in the County ultirnately lies with its residents.


                     urban areas to more intensive use. The      vices, increased exposure to natural
                     1970-1975 trend analysis indicates that     hazards, loss of productive agricultural
                     infill is taking place at nearly twice the  land and mineral resource areas and
                     rate of new development on the urban        degradation of critical watershed and
                     fringe, representing a significant rever-   habitat areas.
                     sal of dominant trends prior to 1970.
A diverging trend    The recycling of older areas has
of centrallzed and   resulted in significant changes in the      2. Decision-Making
decentralized        urban land use pattern. Between 1970
development has      and 1975, it is estimated that over         Clear, effective decision making re-
been occuring:       4,800 acres were recycled from less in-     lated to land use is complicated by a
centralization       tensive uses to medium and high den-        number of factors. For one,
generally in older   sity housing.                               governmental agencies do not always
areas and                                                        have sufficient information to monitor
decentralization     Decentralized development has oc-           development activity, therefore making
primarily in newer   curred at a slower but still significant    it difficult to see cumulative develop-
developing areas     rate than in the past. Much of this type    ment activity. In addition, the incor-
in the County.       of development has been single family       porated cities have local land use
                     residential in eastern San Gabriel Val-     planning and zoning authority. Thus,
                     ley, nordiwestern San Fernando Valley,      coordinating the planning activities
                     Santa Clarita Valley, Cerritos, Agoura      with the cities, the Southern California
                     and Calabasas. Decentralized in-            Association of Governrnents, special
                     dustrial development has also occurred.     districts and other agencies is exceed-
                     Decentralized development can have          ingly complex. Finally, competing
                     adverse consequences such as in-            land planning objectives often arise,
                     creased costs for infrastructure and ser-   complicating planning efforts.


LU-2


PAGE 37 Show Image
                                                                                     Land Use

C. General Plan Policy                      2. Discourage the development of
                                            isting substandard parcels when it is
Maps                                        determined that such development in-
                                            dividually or in combination with ad-

The Land Use Policy map portrays a          jacent existing and/or proposed
general pattern and distribution of land    development, will result in overbur-
uses according to nine generalized clas-    dening of existing and/or planned
sifications. It serves as the policy        public services and facilities.
framework within which more detailed
local plans (areawide, community and       Quality Neighborhoods
neighborhood) as well as development
proposals can be considered. Key land      Goal: To maintain and enhance the
development and management con-            quality of existing residential neighbor-
cepts from other parts of the general      hoods.
plan are related to a series of general
development standards and conditions       Policies
inmap form. A full explanation of
map legends appears on the back of          3. Encourage development of well
each map.                                   designed twinhomes, townhouses and
                                            garden apartments, particularly on by-
                                            passed parcels within existing urban
                                            communities.

D. Goals and Policies                       4. Promote neighborhood commercial'      _______________
                                            facilities which provide convenience
Coordination with Public Services           goods and services and complement        These Land Use
                                            community character through ap-          policies are aimed
Goal: To provide for land use arrange-      propriate scale, design and locational   at protecting com-
ments that takeffill advantage ofexist-     controls.                                munities and using
mg public service and facility                                                       resources wisely.
capacities.                                Coordination with Transportation

Policies                                   Goal: To coordinate land use with ex-
                                           isting and proposed transportation net-
 1. Require that new developments in       works.
 non-urban areas have adequate acces-
 sibility to paved roads and water lines
 of sufficient capacity.


                                                                                             LU-3


PAGE 38 Show Image
Land Use

                     `N' ~¾


                     The County's industry depends on an interconnecting rail system

                     Policies                                   Policies

                      5. Encourage the clustering of well        6. Place major emphasis on channel-
The relationship      designed highway oriented commer-          ing new intensive commercial
between land uses     cial facilities in appropriate and con-    development into multipuipose
and transportation    veniently spaced locations.                centers.
is important.
                     Convenient Commercial Uses                 Sufficient Commercial and In-
                                                                dustrial Lands
                     Goal: To situate commercial activities
                     in viable clusters that conveniently       Goal: To provide commercial and in-
                     serve their market areas.                  dustrial lands sufficient to accom-
                                                                modate the projected labor force.


LU-4


PAGE 39 Show Image
                                                                                      Land Use

     Policies                                      centers to provide convenient access
                                                   to jobs and services without sacrific-
      7. Protect prime industrial lands from       ing livability of environmental quality.
      encroachment of incompatible uses.
                                                   13. Encourage the recycling of aban-
      8. Where appropriate, promote more           doned mineral extraction sites to
      intensive use of industrial sites, espe-     recreational, industrial or other
      cially in areas requiring revitalization.    productive use.

      9. Protect major landfill and solid          14. Assure that new development is One of the Land
      waste disposal sites from encroach-          compatible with the natural and man- Use Element
      ment of incompatible uses.                   made environment by implementing   focuses is to
                                                   appropriate locational controls and provide compatible
      10. In urban areas, encourage the            high quality design standards.     land uses.
      retention of economically viable
      agricultural production, e.g., high          15. Protect the character of residential
      value crops such as strawberries, cut        neighborhoods by preventing the in-
      flowers, nursery stock, etc., through        trusion of incompatible uses that
      the identification and mitigation of         would cause environmental degrada-
      significant adverse impacts resulting        tion such as excessive noise, noxious
      from adjacent new development.               flimes, glare, shadowing and traffic.

      11. Protect known mineral resource           16. Promote planned industrial
      reserves (including sand and gravel)         development in order to avoid land
      from encroachment of incompatible            use conflicts with neighboring ac-
      land uses.                                   tivities.

     Quality, Compatible Design                    17. Establish and implement
                                                   regulatory controls that ensure com-
     Goal: To encourage high quality               patibillty of development adjacent to
     design in all development projects,           or within major public open space
     compatible with, and sensitive to, the        and recreation areas including Na-
     natural and manmade environment.              tional Forests, the National Recrea-
                                                   tion Area, and State and regional
                                                   parks.
     Policies

      12. Concentrate well designed high
      density housing in and adjacent to

½~½


                                                                                               LU-5


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Land Use

                18. Prohibit development of existing      19. Discourage the development of
                substandard parcels when it is deter-     existing substandard parcels when it
                mined that such development, in-          is determined that such development,
                dividually or in combination with         individually or in combination with
                adjacent existing and/or proposed         adjacent existing and/or proposed
                development, will significantly in-       development, will result in: (1) sig-
                crease exposure to unmitigable public     nificant degradation of natural resour-
                health and safety hazards.                ces shared by community
                                                          residents;and (2) disruption of estab-
                                                          lished community character recog-
                                                          nizedinthePlan.

                                                          20. Protect identified Potential
                                              ~           Agricultural Preserves by discourag-
                                                          ing inappropriate land division and al-
                                                          lowing only use types and intensities
                                                          compatible with agriculture.

                                                          21. In non-urban areas outside of
                                                          Potential Agricultural Preserves, en-
                                                          courage the retention and expansion
                                                          of agriculture by promoting com-
                                                          patible land use arrangements and
                                                          providing technical assistance to in-
                                                          volved farming interests.

                                                         Energy Conservation and Improved
                                                         Air Quality

                                                         Goal: To foster compatible land use
                                                         arrangements that contribute to
                                                         reduced energy cosumption and im-
                                                         proved air quality.


               Design enhancements can create a tranquil
               atmosphere in the midst of an intense urban
               area.


LU-6


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                                                                          Land Use

Policies                                     27. Improve the land use decision-
                                             making process by closely monitoring
 22. Promote land use arrangements           and evaluating the cumulative im
 that wrn maximize energy conserva-          pacts of individual projects and by
 tion.                                       modernizing development regulations.

Decision-Making Process                      28. Promote improved interjurisdic-
                                             tional coordination of land use policy
Goal: To provide a land use decision-        matters between the County, cities,
making process supported by adequate         adjacent counties, special districts,
information and ongoing citizen par-         and regional and subregional agencies.
ticipation.
                                             29. Ensure that cities have a voice in
Policies                                     land use decisions within their
                                             adopted spheres of influence.
 23. Ensure that future land division
 activity within Los Angeles County         Efficient Use of Land
 occurs in strict compliance with State
 and local laws.                            Goal: To encourage more efficient use
                                            of land, compatible with, and sensitive
 24. Ensure that the recognition of lots    to, natural ecolocigal, scenic, cultural
 created in non-compliance with State       and open space resources.
 and County subdivision laws (i.e., is-
 suance of Conditional Certificate of       Policies
 Compliance) occurs only in a manner
 which balances the fights and inter-        30. Prevent inappropriate develop-
 ests of both the general public and in-     ment in areas that are environmental-
 dividual property owners.                   ly sensitive or subject to severe
                                             natural hazards, and in areas where es-
 25. Establish land use controls that af-    sential services and facilities do not
 ford effective protection for sig-          exist and are not planned.
 nificant ecological resources, and
 lands of major scenic value.

 26. Ensure contmuing opportunity for
 citizen involvement in the land use
 decision-making process.


                                                                                  LU-7


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Land Use

                 31. Promote compatible land use ar-
                 rangements that reduce reliance on
                 the private automobile in order to
                 minimize related social, economic
                 and environmental costs.

                 32. Provide a land use mix at the
                 countywide, areawide and community
                 levels based on projected need and
                 supported by evaluation of social,
                 economic and environmental impacts.


LU-8


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                                                                            Land Use

E. Glossary                                  The visible land area outside of the
                                             highway right-of-way (to be defined
By-passed Land                               through scenic corridor studies of
                                             proposed routes in the Scenic Highway
Land which remains undeveloped               Element).
within generally urbanized areas.

Centralization                               Shadowing
                                             Refers to shadows cast by structures
As used in discussion of land use            onto surrounding land uses.
trends, the term refers to an intensifica-
tion or concentration of urban develop-      Spheres Of Influence
ment within established urban areas.         Unincorporated areas currently beyond
                                             the boundary of a city, but likely to be
Decentralization                             included in the city's ultimate physical
As used in discussion of land use            boundary, due to its ability to provide
trends, this tenri refers to an extension    services and its social and economic
or dispersion of urban development           interdependence with the area. These
into areas previously undeveloped or         areas are formally designated and
in essentially non-urban use.                adopted by the Local Agency Forma-
                                             tion Commission.
Infill
The conversion of vacant or agricul-         Urban Expansion
tural land within the urban area to an       Geographic extension of urban levels
urban use.                                   of development and service into pre-
                                             viously undeveloped or non-urban
Infrastructure                               areas.
Basic utilities and facilities necessary
for development, such as water,
electricity, sewers, streets and high-
ways.

Prime Buildable Land
Undeveloped land which presents few
or no physical constraints to develop-
ment, is served by appropriate levels
of infrastructure and public services,
and is reasonably near existing ur-
banization.
Scenic Corridors


                                                                                    LU-9


PAGE 44 Show Image
                                                                            Land Use

               Appendix A
               Table of Contents

               Section                                                              Page

               General Conditions and Standards for Development....................LU-Al
                    1. Urban Residential Development...............................LU-A2
                    2. Non-Industrial Uses within Major Industrial Areas...........LU-A4
                    3. Local Commercial and Industrial Services....................LU-A4
                    4. Open Space Areas............................................LU-A7
                    5. Non-Urban Residential Development...........................LU-A8
                    6. Non-Urban Residential Development Conditions................LU-A9
                    7. Non-Urban Hillside Development.............................LU-AlO
                    8. Significant Ecological Areas (SEAs)........................LU-A12
                    9. Flood none Areas...........................................LU-A14
                    10. Major Fault Zones.........................................LU-A15
                    11. Agricultural Opportimity Areas............................LU-A17
                    12. National Forests..........................................LU-A17
                    13. Open Space Easements and Dedications......................LU-A18
                    14. Coastal Zone..............................................LU-A19
                    15. Scenic Highways...........................................LU-A19
                    16. Mineral Resource Areas....................................LU-~0
                    17. Cultural Heritage Resources...............................LU-A21


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN                                              LU-Ai


PAGE 45 Show Image
                                                                  Land Use


          Appendix A
          List of Tables

          Title                                                         Page

          LU-Al Countywide Density Threshold Non-Urban Hillside........LU-All


County of Los Angeles GENERAL PLAN                                   LU-Au


PAGE 46 Show Image
                                                                                     Land Use

Land Use Element                            communities. These Local Plans (corn-
                                            munity and areawide plans) are
Appendix A: General                         referenced and included here as local-

Conditions and Standards                    ized refinements of General Plan land

for Development                             use policy. There are, in addition, a
                                            number of other local and community
~nicorporated County                        planning programs envisioned in the
                                            coming years. Upon adoption, such
Areas)                                      plans wrn be fonnally incorporated as
                                            Local Plan chapters of the General
                                                1
It has been previously noted that the       Plan.                                    The Land Use Ele-
textual and mapped policies of the                                                   ment serves as a
Land Use Element are countywide in          The introductory chapter of the          key tool for im-
scope and to a large degree reflect the     General Plan discusses in broader con-   proving interjuris-
land use plans of other local jurisdic-     text the relationship between the coun-  dictional
tions and unincorporated communities.       tywide and Local Plan components of      coordination in
As such, the Element provides an over-      the General Plan. While recognizing      land use planning.
view of countywide land use policy          the role of adopted Local Plans in
and the perspective necessary to iden-      regulating local land use and circula-
tif~~ and resolve regional land use is-     tion patterns, the countywide Land Use
sues. III this capacity, the General Plan   Element provides guidance for the
Land Use Element serves as a key tool       resolution of specific issues when one
for in~roving interjurisdictional coor-     of the following conditions exist:
dination in land use planning matters.
                                              1. The specific issues involved, in-
In addition to this countywide perspec-       dividually or collectively, constitute
tive, the Element must also provide a         a regional land use concern.
basis for more specific land use plan-
ning and decision-making activities           2. No adopted local plan covers the
within unincorporated areas. To this          area in question or addresses the
end, the County has emphasized the            issue at hand.
development of relatively detailed land
use plans for its major unincorporated


1   Local plans adopted or in preparation include the following: Hacienda Heights (adopted 1978); Rowland Heights (adopted
    1981); Santa Monica Mountains (adopted 1981); Santa Catalina (adopted 1982); Marina del Rey/Ballona (adopted 1982);
    Diamond Bar (adopted 1983); Catalina Island (adopted 1983); Santa Clarita Valley (adopted 1977 and updated in 1984);
    Antelope Valley (adopted 1985); Altadena (adopted 1986); Walnut Park (adopted 1986); East Los Angeles (adopted 1978
    and iapdated in 1988); Castaic Corridor (completed 1988); Westmont Community (initiated 1988).


                                                                                          LU-Al


PAGE 47 Show Image
Land Use

               Within this context the following          corporated territory within its desig-
               general conditions and standards for       nated sphere of influence.
               development are set forth to clarif~r
               General Plan policy with regard to         Within the range of entitlements estab-
               regional land use concerns, and to         lished by urban residential land use
               provide guidance for decision-making       classifications, transfer of density
               in the absence of applicable corn-         within a project site is generally en-
               munity level plauning.                     couraged as a means of reducing poten-
                                                          tial adverse impacts, preserving scenic
                                                          areas and providing increased open
                                                          space and design amenities. However,
               1. Urban Residential                       density transfer should be discouraged
               Development                                when it is deteimined that:

               General: The residential use classifica-     1. The proposed development is not
               tions of the Land Use Policy Map are         in keeping with established corn-
               intended to describe dominant housing        munity character recognized in a lo-
               characteristics within the areas covered     cally adopted plan; and/or,
               and are representative of permitted den-
               sity ranges established by various city      2. The proposed project will over-
               and community plans throughout Los           burden existing and/or planned ser-
               Angeles County. Within unincor-              vices, facilities or infrastnicture.
               porated areas, adopted local plans serve
               to refme these generalized classifica-     Unincorporated local plans may -- and
               tions and establish more specific den-     are encouraged to -- refine and expand
               sity standards and conditions for          upon the above provisions governing
               development. Where no such local           density transfer.
               plan exists, the density ranges estab-
               lished by the countywide General Plan      Residential Infill: General Plan policy
               will guide decision-making relative to     supports a more concentrated form of
               specific residential development           urban development. More specifically,
                         2
               proposals.  In addition, such coun-        it encourages residential infill at den-
               tywide standards may be interpreted to     sities compatible with and slightly
               reflect more specific use provisions of    higher than those of surrounding uses.
               an adopted city plan applicable to unin-   In light of this policy emphasis, new
                                                          residential development within existing
                                                          urban areas not covered by a more

2  Minor density variations may be permitted to accomodate spec jfic lot size and net area provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.


LU-A2


PAGE 48 Show Image
                                                                           Land Use

detailed local plan may be permitted at     Low and Moderate Income Housing:
densities exceeding those depicted on       General Plan policy strongly supports
the Land Use Policy Map, subject to         the provision of critically needed low
                                                                   4
conformance with the following              and moderate income housing. In sup-
criteria:                                   port of this policy emphasis, the Plan
                                            proposes the development and applica-
   1. The proposed project will not dis-    tion of density bonus and other
   rupt sound residential neighbor-         programs designed to stimulate produc-
   hoods nor adversely affect the           tion of such housing by both the public
   character of the established com-        and private sectors.
   munity;
                                            The General Plan flirther recognizes,
   2. The proposed project site is of suf-  however, that the precise design and
   ficient size to accommodate design       location of future low and moderate in-
   features (setbacks, landscaping, buf-    come housing cannot adequately be
   fering, etc.) necessary to ensure        reflected by mapped land use policy at
   compatibility with surrounding uses;     either the countywide or local plan
                                            levels. Thus, adopted programs for the
   3. The proposed project will not         development of low and moderate in-
   overburden existing public services      come housing units may modify the
   and facilities;                          urban use type and intensity standards
                                            established by generalized local land
   4. The proposed use will not disrupt     use plans. Such programs shall include
   or adversely impact local traffic and    appropriate design and density
   parking conditions; and                  parameters for specific development
                                            proposals that reflect the following con-
   5. Compatibility of the proposed         siderations:
   project with surrounding uses, in
   terms of scale, intensity and design,      1. The compatibility of the proposed
   is ensured through specific site plan      project, in terms of scale and design,
   review.3                                   with surrounding land uses and es-
                                              tablished community character;


3   While at present the Conditional Use Permit process is the primary mechanism available to assure compliance with an
    approved site plan. new and improved development controls may be employed as they become available.
4   The Housing Element discusses in detail the topic oflow- and moderate- income housing, sets forth applicable locational
    criteria, and describes a variety ofmeclzanisms which `nay be employed to encourage the provision of critically needed
    units.


                                                                                LU-A3


PAGE 49 Show Image
Land Use

                 2. The viability of the proposed            1. The area in question is not
                 project in terms of a long term corn-       suitable for present or future in-
                 mitment and ability to meet iden-           dustrial use due to conflicts with ex-
                 tified lOW and moderate income              isting or emerging land use patterns,
                 housing needs; and,                         lack of sufficient and adequate ac-
                                                             cess, or the presence of site specific
                 3. The location of the proposed             physical characteristics posing
                 project relative to shopping and            severe constraints for industrial
                 employment opportunities and ac-            development; or the proposed use
                 cessibility to necessary public ser-        demonstrates a desirable, corn-
                 vices and facilities.                       patible and well-integrated pattern
                                                             of employment and housing oppor-
                                                             tunities and thereby furthers General
               2. Non-Industrial Uses within                 Plan objectives pertaining to
                                                             reduced energy consumption and im-
               Major Industrial Areas                        proved air quality.

               The countywide General Plan recog-            2. The proposed non-industrial use,
               nizes the limited supply of prime land        individually or in combination with
               available for future industrial growth        adjacent uses, will not adversely irn-
               and development. This scarcity is par-        pact the viability of surrounding
               ticularly acute in the southern portions      areas for the maintenance or expan-
               of the County where the majority of the       sion of industrial activities.
               current and projected labor force wrn
               reside.                                       3. Compatibility of the proposed
                                                             non-industrial use with current and
                                                             future industrial activities in the area
               The Plan also recognizes, however,            is ensured through specific site plan
               that the Major Industrial category
               depicted on the Land Use Policy Map           review and approval.
               is, due to mapping scale and data
               resource factors, generalized in nature
               and may, in fact, include areas with        3. Local Commercial and
               limited potential for industrial develop-   Industrial Services
               ment. Therefore, establishment of non-
               industrial uses within identified Major
               Industrial areas not covered by a more      Due to the scale and nature of the coun-
               detailed local plan may be peimitted        tywide Land Use Policy Map, locally-
               subject to fmdings of compliance with       serving commercial and industrial uses
               the following conditions:                   are generally not shown. Such local-


LU-A4


PAGE 50 Show Image
                                                                         Land Use

ized land use types and associated
development standards are more a')-
propfiately addressed by detailed local
plans. However, m order to provide
giiidance for decision making in the ab-
sence of an adopted local plan, the fol-
lowing general conditions and
standards are provided.

Definition: For puiposes of the cowl-
tywide Land Use Element, local com-
mercial and industrial uses are defined
as individual enterprises or small scale
multi-use centers serving the needs of
the local community. Such uses in-
dude:

  1. Facilities providing neighborhood    Local shopping areas are convenient and help establish community
  or community convenience goods          character.
  and services;
                                             local "cottage industry't uses where
  2. Highway or roadside facilities          compatible with surrounding land
  and services of a minor nature (i.e.,      use patterns).
  gas stations, cafes, motels, etc.);        Guidelines governing the general
                                             location, scale, design and circula-
  3. Local communitylneighborhood-           tion characteristics of local commer-
  serving office and professional ser-       cial and industrial uses (11ereafter
  vices; and
                                             referred to as local services) are set
  4. Light industrial uses of a minor        forth below:
  nature as defined by the scale of the   Location:
  facility, number of employees, ser-
  vice area, and general coippatibility      1. The proposed use should be easi-
  within the community setting (it is
  not the intent of countywide land          ly accessible and should be situated
  use policy to prohibit the estab           at community focal points such as-
                                             major intersections and established
  lishment or continued operation of         neighborhood shopping facilities.


                                                                              LU-AS


PAGE 51 Show Image
Land Use

                       2. The proposed use should be lo-        2. Proposed local service use should
                       cated so as not to invade or disrupt     reflect locally recognized architec-
                       sound existing residential neighbor-     tural themes and enhance overall
                       hoods nor conflict with established      community character.
                       community land use, parking and
______________         circulation patterns.                    3. Local commercial signs and
                                                                graphic displays should generally be
One ofthe~nc-        Scale:                                     confmed to the facade surface of the
tions of the                                                    business establishment and should
General Condi-
                       1. The scale of local service uses, in   not project above the roofline or dis-
tions and Stan-        terms of acreage and permitted floor     rupt the architectural design of the
dards for              area, should be limited to that which    structure.
Development is to      *can be justified by local community
delineate ap-          and neighborhood needs. Inmost in-       4. Free-standing signs should
propriate uses for     stances, such uses, individually or in   generally be discouraged and per-
Open Space Areas.      aggregate, should not exceed 10          mitted only where they are deter-
                       acres is size.                           mined to be aesthetically and
                                                                flinctionally appropfiate.
                       2. The height of proposed facilities
                       should not exceed the general            5. Off-site signs should be
                       profile established by existing uses,    prohibited.
                       and should in no event exceed that
                       of neighboring residential develop-     Access and Traffic:
                       ment.
                                                                1. The size and intensity of local ser-
                       3. The overall scale and intensity of    vice uses should be confined to the
                       proposed local service uses should       extent that anticipated traffic genera-
                       be in keeping with the surrounding       tion does not adversely affect condi-
                       neighborhood or community setting.       tions on adjacent streets and
                                                                highways.
                     Design:
                                                                2. Access, egress and onsite parking
                       1. Local service uses should be          should be provided in a manner
                       designed, in terms of setbacks,          which maximizes safety and con-
                       landscaping, lighting and buffering,     venience, and minimizes adverse im-
                       so as to ensure compatibility with       pacts on surrounding neighborhood
                       surrounding uses.                        and community land use patterns.


LU-A6


PAGE 52 Show Image
                                                                            Land Use

4. Open Space Areas                          open space use, the appropriateness of
                                             the proposed project shall be reviewed
                                             and determined in light of the follow-
Due to the scale and generalized nature      ing considerations:
of the Land Use Policy Map, it is con-
ceivable that privately owned lands not      Finding: In reviewing a proposal for
intended for long term open space use        development within the Open Space
have been included within the Open           classification of the countywide Land
Space classification. The Plan there-        Use Policy Map, the Regional Planning
fore seeks to provide a mechanism to         Commission shall make a specific find-
guide detailed land use consideration        ing that the proposed project site was
in instances where mapped policy, by         inadvertently included within the open
itself, is unclear or inadequate. In corn-   space classification.
bination with the textual and mapped
policies of the Plan, the general stand-     Criteria:
ards and conditions set forth below are
intended to provide such a mechanism.        1. Land Compatibility/Suitability
                                               It shall be demonstrated that the sub-
Corn patible Uses: Land within the             ject property is capable of support-
Open Space classification of the coun-         ing the proposed development
tywide General Plan may, as a matter           without increasing exposure to sig-
of course, be developed to any use per-        nificant natural hazards or degrad-
mitted in Zones 0-S (Open Space) and           ing identified critical natural
W (Watershed) of the Los Angeles               resources. It shall flirther be estab-
County Zoning Ordinance, subject to            lished that access to the site is ade-
the conditions and standards of those          quate to serve the intended use and
      5
zones.  Such uses include a variety of         that the provision of necessary ser-
agricultural, recreational, mineral ex-        vices and facilities wrn not result in
traction, and public and semi-public ac-       undue public costs.
tivities and services.
                                             2. Compatibility
Alternative Use Determinations: `ri            It shall be demonstrated that the
the event that development, other than         proposed development is com-
that provided for above, is proposed for       patible, in terms of scale and
property within an Open Space clas-            designed character, with surround-
sification not intended for long term          ing land use patterns. Appropriate


5   Private inholdings witizin the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests are dealt with separately on page LU-A17 of this
    Land Use Element, and are not subject to the conditions and standards setforth for Open Space areas.


                                                                                 LU-A7


PAGE 53 Show Image
Land Use

                 use type and intensity standards           designated Open Space Area in
                 shall be reflective of those existing      temis of suitability, scale, design
                 or proposed for adjacent non-open          and character shall be assured
                 space properties.                          through the review and approval of
                                                            a specific site plan, with conditions
                 It shall flirther be demonstrated that     established as necessary through nor-
                 the scale, design and overall charac-      mal zoning or land division proce-
                 ter of the proposed development            dures.
                 will not adversely affect or sig-
                 nificantly dimnish the open space
                 and recreational potential of ad-        5. Non-Urban Residential
                 jacent resource areas.
                                                          Development
               3. Special Considerations
                 The countywide Land Use Element          The intent of the General Plan policy
                 sets forth a variety of general stand-   with regard to use types and intensities
                 ards and conditions for development      permitted in non-urban areas is out-
                 to guide land use decision making in     lined in the countywide Land Use
                 the absence of specific mapped           Policy Map discussion. The general
                 policy (i.e., urban and non-urban        conditions set forth below expand upon
                 residential development standards,       that statement of intent, and are
                 residential infill, low and moderate     designed to provide guidance for
                 income housing, local commercial         decision-making in the absence of
                 and industrial facilities, special       more specific standards and perfor-
                 management areas, etc.). Where ap-       mance criteria.
                 plicable, such general standards and
                 conditions for development shall be      Except as otherwise provided for by an
                 employed to guide decisions relative     adopted areawide, community or
                 to appropriate alternative use of        s