Update: Corrections and more clarification has been added to the original post. The corrections and additional language is marked in red.

This is a cross-post from Regional Planning’s Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) blog. More information can be found on the SEA project website at planning.lacounty.gov/sea.

Thank you to everyone who submitted public comments during our public comment period back in spring!  We are wrapping up the review of the public comments submitted during the 75-day public comment period. Many of the comments we received expressed that single-family residences and agricultural uses in the Antelope Valley should also undergo SEA review. In response to this feedback, we drafted an alternative option for the AV exemptions that we wanted to discuss with the residents. Please see below for a comparison of the current draft language and the alternative option.

We want to hear what you think about the alternative option! We are collecting comments on the alternative option. Send your comments to:

sea@planning.lacounty.gov

 

Current Draft SEA Ordinance

In the current draft ordinance, any new single-family residences, additions, and agricultural uses in the SEAs within the AV Plan boundaries are exempt from SEA review. This exemption will apply to SEAs that extend from the border of northern LA county to the southern foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains (shown below in orange).

Existing ordinance language:

“Within the boundaries of the Antelope Valley Area Plan, the following are exempt:

• Construction of a new single-family residence, regardless of size,
• Improvements accessory to a single-family residence, regardless of size:
  • Additions to an existing single-family residence;
  • Landscaping;
  • New accessory structures;
  • Additions to existing accessory structures; or
  • New or expanded animal keeping areas and facilities.
• Agricultural uses on all previously disturbed farmland”

 

Alternative Option

The alternative option will have the exemption as described above apply only to the eastern portion of the Santa Clara River SEA (shown below in orange) that is outside of the National Forest boundary.

The rest of the SEAs in the AV (shown below in green) will follow the county-wide SEA regulations when it comes to single-family residences and agricultural uses. The county-wide regulations will require single-family residences and agricultural uses to undergo biological review. A ministerial review track is available if development is able to meet SEA development standards and within a 20,000 square foot building site area. A discretionary permit will be required if the development is unable to meet the requirements for ministerial review.

Alternative option ordinance language:

“Within the Antelope Valley Area Plan portion of eastern Santa Clara River SEA, and outside of the National Forest, the following are exempt:

• Construction of a new single-family residence, regardless of size,
• Improvements accessory to a single-family residence, regardless of size:
  • Additions to an existing single-family residence;
  • Landscaping;
  • New accessory structures;
  • Additions to existing accessory structures; or
  • New or expanded animal keeping areas and facilities.
• Agricultural uses on all previously disturbed farmland”