Proposal for 6 Regional Planning Panels Advances

A divided Los Angeles Planning Commission Thursday recommended the creation of six regional planning panels to provide residents with more localized decision-making.

Commissioner Rodger Landau said the new system of Area Planning Commissions, scheduled to begin operation July 1 after final approval by the City Council, will bring planning decisions closer to the neighborhoods they affect.

“It will keep local planning decisions local,” Landau said. “It will provide residents of the city of Los Angeles with the ability to participate in the planning process in their areas in a convenient location.”

The action will streamline the planning process by making it simpler and easier to navigate, said Commission President Peter Weil.

The proposed panels are:

* The North Valley Commission for the San Fernando Valley roughly north of Roscoe Boulevard.

* The South Valley Commission for the area south of Roscoe Boulevard and north of Mulholland Drive.

* The West Los Angeles Commission covering Westchester, Venice, Bel-Air and Westwood.

* The Metro Area Commission for an area including Boyle Heights, downtown, Hollywood, northeast Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Westlake and the Wilshire District.

* The South Los Angeles Commission for West Adams, Baldwin Hills, Leimert Park, South-Central and Southeast Los Angeles.

* The Harbor Area Commission for San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City and Harbor Gateway.