Council OKs $5 Million to Enforce General Plan

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved spending $5.5 million over the next three years to comply with a court order that requires the city to reconcile zoning laws with its more restrictive General Plan.

The money will pay for rezoning 200,000 parcels--about one-fourth of the city’s land area--to bring them into harmony with the General Plan.

The General Plan is composed of various community plans that are supposed to reflect local views on such issues as building densities and parking.

Bypassed Limits

In the past, the City Council often bypassed limits contained in community plans and approved construction under more liberal zoning laws.

Homeowner groups sued, charging that the city was ignoring a 1979 state law that required zoning to conform with the General Plan. That lawsuit led to the court order requiring the city to bring its zoning laws and General Plan into conformity by Feb. 1, 1988.

In most cases, said Planning Director Calvin Hamilton, conflicts will be resolved in favor of the General Plan.

Appearing before the council, Hamilton outlined the steps needed to comply with the court order and requested nearly $2 million during the first year to pay for a land-use survey, computer analysis, hearing notices and other administrative costs.

Funds Needed

He said that another $1.5 million is needed to add Planning Department employees, office space and other costs. An estimated $2 million is needed to continue the program over the next two years, he added.

The council vote was 13 to 1 to approve the proposal, with City Councilman Arthur K. Snyder dissenting.

Mayor Tom Bradley must still approve the expenditure, and a spokeswoman for his office said he had not yet reviewed the proposal.