February 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica City Council Unanimously Endorses the Final Draft Downtown Community Plan Including a Call for Increased Housing Production

The Santa Monica City Council unanimously endorsed the final draft Downtown Community Plan (DCP) at last night’s Council meeting on July 11, 2017. This result came after a six year-long planning process that concluded with more than 100 community members providing public testimony on the DCP at a special meeting on Monday, July 10.

 

The final draft DCP maintains Downtown Santa Monica’s many roles as a thriving neighborhood, public gathering space, international visitor destination, and a regional business district. Six key elements anchor the Plan:

 

  1. Housing is strongly encouraged to accommodate new residents of all incomes, family situations, and stages of life.
  2. New and enhanced public spaces will add to Downtown’s attractiveness.
  3. Expanded cultural, entertainment, and artistic offerings will add to Downtown as the city’s cultural heart.
  4. Preservation of historic and character-defining buildings will help maintain Downtown’s identity as new infill projects take shape.
  5. Downtown’s economic engine will be supported to maintain services and residents’ high quality of life.
  6. Improvements to the mobility network will make getting around town efficient and safe.

 

Here’s a summary of Council’s changes in response to public comment. These refinements will be reflected in the DCP, which will be before Council for ratification on July 25.

 

Emphasis on housing production with an increase in affordable housing requirements

  • Gives bonuses for 100% affordable housing projects including increased height and density districtwide (additional 0.5 FAR and 10 feet in height) and process streamlining.
  • Incentivizes most housing projects by streamlining the process through administrative approval up to 75,000 square feet.
  • Requires between 20 and 30% of all new Downtown housing units be deed-restricted as affordable housing across a range of affordability levels and unit sizes (among the highest ratios of required affordable housing in California).
  • Adjusts density in Neighborhood Village (overall 0.25 FAR increase) where the opportunity for new housing is greatest.
  • Encourages housing by discouraging suburban-scale commercial development by reducing the Development Review threshold from 15,000 to 10,000 square feet for non-housing projects.

 

Rigorous process and clear limits for Established Large Sites

  • Maintains the draft DCP’s Established Large Site Overlay Zone for three sites creating a rigorous public process for future consideration of projects that would be limited to up to 130 feet in height and site specific Floor Area Ratios (FAR) including:
  1. 1133 Ocean Avenue: 3.0 FAR
  2. 101 Santa Monica Boulevard: 4.0 FAR
  3. 4th/5th and Arizona Avenue: 3.5 FAR

 

This does not result in a decision on the ultimate disposition of these sites. Any proposed projects on these sites will still be required to be processed through a negotiated development agreement, perform additional environmental review, be required to conduct extensive community outreach, and demonstrate how the project meets priorities of the DCP during public hearings and review.

 

Eliminates parking minimums to leverage existing parking resources

  • Eliminates minimum parking requirements.
  • Keeps the proposed parking maximums, which are lower than existing parking requirements.
  • Allows flexibility for owners of existing parking spaces in excess of the DCP’s parking maximums to share with off-site users.

 

“I’m pleased that after robust, but civil dialogue on some key issues the Council unanimously endorsed the final draft DCP,” said Mayor Ted Winterer. “The DCP will preserve the historic character of our Downtown, while allowing continued enhancements of public green space and plazas, and new buildings that complement the economic prosperity and environmental sustainability of our entire community. The Plan creates opportunities to help meet the needs of low and fixed-income households, Downtown workers, and working families by taking a housing first approach that incentivizes housing production and substantially increases requirements for deed-restricted affordable housing.”

Council will vote on the final draft DCP after public comment on Tuesday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers.

in News
<>Related Posts

Student Protest Over Immigration Policies Leads to Walkouts Across the Westside

February 7, 2025

February 7, 2025

Walkout Turns Tense as Counter-Protester Confronts Teen in Video From Venice Students from Santa Monica High School (SAMOHI), Culver City...

10-Year-Old Palisades Girl Wins Martial Arts Medals Weeks After Losing Home to Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Savoian, a green belt in Yoshukai karate, trained at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center in Pacific Palisades Just weeks after...

Open Arms Art Show Runs Through Mar. 22 in Burbank

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Opening Exhibition Saturday Feb. 8 from 12 to 8p.m. More than an art show, the Open Arms Exhibition is an...

Quiet Luxury: What’s Inside the New Regent Boutique and Sweet July

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

The Regent Santa Monica Beach, known for its perfect Santa Monica getaways, or local dining at its Mediterranean-based restaurant Orla...

Santa Monica Waives Outdoor Dining Fees After Wildfires

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

101 businesses participate in Santa Monica’s outdoor dining programs, which began as a temporary measure during COVID-19 In an effort...

(Photos) Kamala Harris Visits Destruction of Palisades Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Harris spoke with first responders, service providers, and evacuees about recovery efforts and resources Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined...

Film Review: Companion

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

FILM REVIEWCOMPANIONRated R97 MinutesReleased January 31st Companion is like an O. Henry short story, moving at a breezy clip, with...

Best Spots to Celebrate Valentines, Galentines, or Have a Super Bowl Party on the Westside

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Cocktails, Game Day Grub, Valentine’s Pasta, and a Lonely Heart’s Tea Service You will find many excellent ways to celebrate...

Dead Body Found on Sands of Venice Beach, Investigation Underway

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

A death investigation is underway By Zach Armstrong A death investigation is underway after local officials discovered a dead body...

Will Rogers State Beach to Become Temporary Hazardous Waste Site

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

The site, located on flat, open land near the burn zone, will serve as a staging area where materials will...

FDA Issues High-Risk Recall for Pre-Packaged Broccoli Florets Sold at Walmart

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

Recall Is Now Classified as Class I Due to Seriousness Of Contamination The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified...

Matū Kai Brings Its Signature Wagyu and Famous Cheesesteak to Brentwood

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

Team Behind Beverly Hills’ Acclaimed Matū Is Opening a Second Location One of Beverly Hills’s newest and most popular restaurants,...

SaMoHi Science Teacher Arrested for Alleged Student Relationship

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

Ingo Gaida Faces Misdemeanor Charges After Investigation into Inappropriate Conduct A Santa Monica High School science teacher was arrested Wednesday,...

Supermarket Reopens in Palisades Following Wildfire Damage

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2025

The store is currently operating on a generator until power is fully restored The Vons supermarket at 17380 W Sunset...

State Farm Seeks Emergency Rate Hike, Citing Wildfire Losses—Consumer Advocates Push Back

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2025

Insurer Requests up to a 38% Rate Increase, but Critics Call It an Unjustified Cash Grab In a press release...