Baseline Hillside Ordinance
By: Gillian Calof
Hillside Federation Representative
hillside@beverlyglen.org

What is the Baseline Hillside Ordinance?

The Baseline Hillside Ordinance (BHO) is an important amendment to the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) dealing with single-family residential zoned lots in hillside areas. It is significant because it attempts to address out-of-scale construction on small or steep hillside lots in Los Angeles, while balancing property rights and other needs. The BHO focuses specifically on the following main elements of construction, depending on site conditions such as lot size, slope and zone:

• Grading
• Dwelling Height
• Maximum Residential Floor Area

The BHO also has a provision that would allow individual neighborhoods to tailor size limits and other regulations covered in the BHO.

BHO Status – City Planning Commission Action

On April 22, 2010 the City Planning Commission discussed the proposed BHO. Based on testimony shared at this meeting, the Commission decided to continue review of the BHO to May 2010.

Go here to access the City Planning Commission Staff Report and current BHO text (May 27, 2010): http://planning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/BaselineHillsideOrd/CPC-2010-581-CA052710SRpt.pdf

Go here to access the City Planning Commission Staff Report and proposed BHO text (April 22, 2010): http://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/InitialRpts/CPC-2010-581.pdf

Go here to access the City Planning Commission Determination Letter: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-1001_rpt_plan_6-8-10.pdf

Residents of Beverly Glen, Inc. Action

While the Board of ROBG supports a BHO, several concerns with the current version have been raised. To view a copy of the June 11, 2010 response prepared by the ROBG Board, click here. 

 What’s Next?

The BHO will be heard by the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee; PLUM is a Subcommittee of the City Council that reviews all planning related matters.  It is expected that PLUM will hear the proposal sometime in mid- to late-July. 

There are still at least 4 steps left to go before the Ordinance is officially adopted, which are as follows: 

• A PLUM Committee recommendation to the full City Council;
• The preparation of the official Baseline Hillside Ordinance (a legal description of the changes to the Code that would incorporate the proposed hillside provisions) by the City Attorney’s Office, among other City Charter mandated steps taken by their Office
• The adoption of the proposed Ordinance by the City Council; and
• The signature of the Mayor.

The City Clerk’s Office will then post the adopted Ordinance for a period of 10 days and a 30-day effective date will begin after that. It is likely that September is the earliest for an official City Council action.

To Learn More or Get Involved

Email: hillside@beverlyglen.org