One of the many results of the failed, but influential, Measure S of 2017 was the City of Los Angeles's pledge to hasten its historically slow process of updating Community Plans. The stakes have never been higher, with climate change, traffic, the housing crisis, and myriad other forces bearing down on the Westside.

While the City's General Plan Framework Element establishes citywide principles for growth and development, its Community Plans collectively comprise the bedrock of urban planning, from visionary aspirations down to neighborhood-specific details. The Department of City Planning has completed several Community Plans since 2015 and is now working on its first four Westside updates: West Los Angeles, Palms/Mar Vista/Del Rey, Venice, and Westchester/Playa del Rey. The planning process is being accelerated – to three years rather than what has historically taken up to a decade. All of which may add up to a spirited, and necessary, discussion about the future of the community – and a challenge for the city to mediate. 

This month at WUF, we will discuss the community planning process, get a status update on the Westside plans, and hear about the city's initial vision for the future of the Westside. We will interrogate the processes for recently updated plans to learn how Westside stakeholders can share their visions with the city and discuss how the plans might respond to the re:codeLA project. Meanwhile, the plans will have to respond to new state and regional mandates concerning housing targets and, of course, will undergo scrutiny from stakeholders, the City Planning Commission, and City Council.

Will the Westside change dramatically, or will these plans maintain the status quo? Join WUF on Friday, November 22nd to discuss!

Panelists
Shana Bonstin, Dept. Director of Community Planning, Los Angeles Dept. of City Planning
Tom Donovan, Esq., Former Chair, West Los Angeles Planning Commission
Romerol Malveaux, Liemert Park Activist and former Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment Field Director
Mott Smith, Co-Founder, Civic Enterprise

Moderator
Jane Usher, Partner, Musick, Peeler & Garrett; Former Chair, Los Angles City Planning Commission

Helms Design Center @ the Helms Bakery campus
8745 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA  90232
Google map and directions

Parking
Available in the adjacent, interior parking garage at 8711 Washington Blvd., Culver City (look for the red banners), or ample street parking, or via the Expo Light Rail line, one block to the east of Helms Bakery.

7:15am-9am

7:15am  Registration
7:30am  Breakfast
7:45am  Panel Discussion

$50  members
$65  nonmembers
$10  student members
$15  student nonmembers

A limited number of discounted tickets are available for members of neighborhood councils and other community-based organizations. Please inquire at info@westsideurbanforum.com.

Pre-registration closes on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. After November 20, 2019 and at onsite registration the cost will be an additional $10. No refunds or credits will be provided after this date.