The MAP team would like to thank everyone who commented on the Metro Area Plan, ordinance, and/or Draft PEIR (the Project). Subsequently, in February 2023, the team mailed approximately 2,200 letters to property owners whose lands were being considered for rezoning to new industrial zones, higher-density residential or mixed-use zoning that allows ground-floor commercial with residential uses above. The team has also been engaging with interested stakeholders during this process.
After the conclusion of the public comment period for the Draft PEIR, Metro Area Plan, and ordinance, the County elected to revise the Project to reflect County-driven revisions and to address comments received during and after the public review period. Under the revised Project, the Metro Area Plan will not include any industrial rezoning as part of the Project that will go to the Regional Planning Commission in Fall, 2023. Instead, the Project proposes an implementation program that would require the County to develop an industrial land use strategy (Industrial Program) for the communities of East Los Angeles, Florence-Firestone, West Rancho-Dominguez Victoria and Willowbrook within five years of Project approval. The County will conduct additional research and outreach to the property owners of candidate parcels for potential industrial rezoning; meet with stakeholders; gather relevant land use and economic data; perform additional analysis relative to the new industrial zones; and rezone appropriate candidate parcels with the appropriate industrial zones as supported by the additional outreach, information, and analysis.
The Recirculated Draft PEIR will be available for public review/comments starting on Monday, June 12, 2023, and ending on Friday, July 28, 2023. This digital copy can be found in the Documents tab.
The Public Hearing draft of the Area Plan will also be available for public review/comments starting on Monday, June 12, 2023.
Hard copies of these documents will be available for public review by appointment during normal business hours at the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning’s main office (320 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). You may make appointments via email to info@planning.lacounty.gov or call 213-974-6411. Hard copies will also be available at the public libraries that are listed in the Notice of Availability of a Recirculated Draft PEIR posted on the Project website. An updated copy of the draft ordinance will be made available for public review and comment. The availability of this document will be announced and posted on the Project website.
A public hearing on the proposed Metro Area Plan, ordinance, and the Recirculated Draft PEIR before the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) is tentatively scheduled for September 13, 2023. The public hearing will be noticed when the hearing date is confirmed. The public will be able to comment on these updated draft documents in writing during the public review period or at the RPC public hearing, which will be held in-person and virtually.
Thank you for your input and continued interest in this project. Please stay tuned.
Please check out our Documents tab to view or download any project documents and submit comments via email at MetroAreaPlan@planning.lacounty.gov.
Project Overview
The Metro Planning Area is one of the 11 Planning Areas established by the General Plan. The Metro Area Plan (MAP) is a long-range planning document that provides a policy framework for how and where the seven unincorporated communities within the Metro Planning Area will grow over the next 15 years, while celebrating the culture and history of these communities. The seven communities include East Los Angeles, East Rancho Dominguez, Florence-Firestone, Walnut Park, West Athens-Westmont, West Rancho Dominguez-Victoria, and Willowbrook.
The MAP aims to streamline and update existing County regulations in these communities to encourage more housing development, and multi-modal transportation, while focusing on environmental justice issues. The MAP will consider the guiding principles of the General Plan including: Smart Growth, Community Services & Infrastructure, Economic Strength & Diversity, Environmental Resource Management, Healthy, Livable & Equitable Communities, and Community Voices, Strengths & Equity Outcomes.
TimeLine
Timeline
The planning process for the Metro Area Plan project commenced in 2021 with the preparation of community background studies and profiles, engagement with a Technical Advisory Committee and the Community Advisory Committee, and conducting community events, workshops, and other public outreach activities. The draft Metro Area Plan, ordinance and Draft PEIR were released in Fall, 2022.
Next Steps
The following are next steps in the MAP project:
- Recirculate the Draft PEIR for 45-day public review period from June 12, 2023 – July 28, 2023.
- Circulate the Public Hearing Draft Metro Area Plan on June 12, 2023 and the ordinance starting in July, 2023.
- Hold a duly-noticed public hearing on the MAP project before the Regional Planning Commission, tentatively scheduled for September 13, 2023.
Community Outreach
Our community outreach efforts has two major phases. We completed the first phase of our community outreach in the fall of 2021, and have our next round of outreach planned for the spring of 2022. Please check out our events page for more information and to learn more about our community outreach strategies.
Contact
LA County Planning
General Plan / Transit-Oriented Communities Section
213-974-6316
MetroAreaPlan@planning.lacounty.gov
