East LA 3rd Street Specific Plan

East Los Angeles 3rd Street Specific Plan

On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the East Los Angeles Third Street Form-based Code Amendment. The amended ordinance will become effective on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Amended Form-Based Code

This amendment provides minor technical changes to existing standards and corrects errors to make the Ordinance easier to understand and implement. These technical changes consist of the following:
- Typographical Corrections
- Additional Clarifying Language
- Land Use Type Chart Reorganization
- Additional Reference Photos
- Title 22 Code Reference Updates

Overview

On November 12, 2014, the County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance that amended Title 22 (Planning and Zoning) of the Los Angeles County Code to create the East Los Angeles Third Street Form-Based Code Specific Plan (“Plan”). The ordinance became effective December 12, 2014.

The Plan guides and fosters transit-supportive development around the Metro Gold Line stations, as well as stabilizes and enhances the adjoining residential neighborhoods. This Plan is the product of the collective efforts and input of the East Los Angeles Planning Advisory Committee (ELAPAC), county staff, neighborhood residents, and business and property owners. The Plan builds upon the substantial public investment and transformative opportunity created by the Gold Line extension into East Los Angeles. The Plan establishes new development standards and strategies to encourage and support a sustainable, transit-supportive, pedestrian-friendly, and economically vibrant community.

Form-Based Code

The Plan utilizes a form-based development code to guide new development. Form-based codes are an innovative alternative to conventional zoning that focus on the form of buildings rather than the separation of land uses. Form-based codes include specifications of what uses are permitted in a building or zone, but the attention is on the physical character of development, particularly how it relates to the public realm that everyone shares. For more information about Form-Base Code see:

Zoning

All property within the Specific Plan area is assigned one of eight Transect Zones which are defined as designated areas governed by the regulations set forth in the Form-Based Code. The Transect Zones are:

3rd Street (TOD)
Cesar E. Chavez Avenue (CC)
1st Street (FS)
Atlantic Boulevard (AB)
Neighborhood Center (NC)
Low-Medium Density Residential (LMD)
Civic (CV)
Open Space (OS)

A property’s Transect Zone can be looked up in the Geographic Information System (GIS). After searching for the property, select the “Specific Plan – 3rd Street (East LA)” layer in the “Zoning and Land Use folder”.

Transect Zone development standards are located in Section 22.46.2990 and 22.46.3000 of the Los Angeles County Code.

2020 Form-Based Code Amendment

An amendment to the existing Form-Based Code was adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on February 18, 2020. The effective date of this amendment is March 19, 2020. This amendment provides minor technical changes to existing standards and corrects errors to make the Form-Based Code easier to understand and implement. These technical changes consist of the following:

Typographical Corrections
Additional Clarifying Language
Land Use Type Chart Reorganization
Additional Reference Photos
Title 22 Code Reference Updates

Project Timeline	Date
Open House Event	March 30, 2019
Regional Planning Commission Hearing	July 31, 2019
Board of Supervisors Hearing	October 22, 2019
Board of Supervisors Adoption	February 18, 2020
Form-Based Code Amendment Effective	March 19, 2020