Land Use & Planning Committee

The Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC) shall review, take public input, report on and make recommendations of actions to the Board of Officers on any land use and planning issues affecting the community. LUPC shall consist of nine (9) Stakeholders including the elected Chair. No Board Officer may serve as a LUPC member with the exception of the Land Use and Planning Committee chair, Eight (8) LUPC members shall be selected by the Board of Officers from a list of candidates who have formally communicated to the Board their desire to serve on the Land Use and Planning Committee. The Board shall, within thirty (30) days after beginning their term, hold a Board of Officers meeting for the selection of LUPC members. The eight (8) candidates with the highest vote totals shall be selected. A LUPC member may be removed from service by a majority of the full Board of Officers. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner that committee members were originally selected. LUPC recommendations to the Board of Officers shall be in the form of a written report, which shall include a project description, pros & cons, a summary of community input, and any LUPC findings.

In connection with Planning Departments update to Venice LUP, LUPC has discussed draft concepts released by Planning Department and formulate motion to recommend changes to draft concepts.  At its meeting on November 10, 2022, LUPC recommended that the corridor referred to as “Mixed Use Corridor – Rose Avenue” be extended to all of Rose Avenue between Lincoln Blvd. to Main St. to reverse downzoning of the corridor in 1989 and implementing development standards to encourage usable outdoor space. The LUPC Minutes can be accessed here.

The proposed Permanent Al Fresco Ordinance (Draft Ordinance) aims to clarify and streamline Zoning Code regulations regarding outdoor dining on private property. In a separate but related effort, the Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) are preparing regulations to address outdoor dining in the public right-of-way. The Permanent Al Fresco Ordinance affecting private property includes components such as a definition of outdoor dining area, site design and operational standards, and criteria for replacing required parking spaces with outdoor dining area. As proposed, outdoor dining that complies with the applicable standards would be permitted as a by-right use in any zones where restaurants are currently permitted. However, any alcohol service in outdoor dining areas would continue to require compliance with all applicable zoning regulations, including but not limited to Conditional Use Permits or Restaurant Beverage Program Administrative Clearances. More information is available on the Project Page, including a Fact Sheet and Survey Results.