Two public information meeting have been scheduled by CD4 to discuss regulations for a new R-1 Sub-zone to replace the expiring Brookside and Sycamore Square Interim Control Ordinances (ICOs), which are set to expire in July of 2018.
CD4 has called the meetings and instructed the Planning Department to begin work in order to make sure there’s no gap between the expiration of the Interim Control Ordinance and the application of a new ordinance.
Earlier this summer, CD4 Councilmember David Ryu filed a recommendation with City Council recommending the newly adopted R1R3-RG zone, which has also been adopted by the former ICO communities of South Hollywood, La Brea Hancock, and Larchmont Heights.
“La Brea Hancock had the same ICO as Brookside and we feel this would be a great permanent fix for the community. We have included information describing the new single family zones, the R1R3-RG, and a brief description of the Historic Preservation Overlay Zones,” said Ryu in his weekly email to constituents.
The motion filed in July and approved by the City Council in August is below:
I MOVE that the Council instruct the Planning Department, in consultation with the City Attorney, to prepare and present an ordinance to create a new sub-zone of the R1 (Single Family) zone in the Brookside and Sycamore Square neighborhoods (Ordinance No. 184381), as was done for various other neighborhoods citywide (Council File No. 16-1470), and which is known as the R1R3-RG zone, enabling variations as to size and scale, and thereby allowing houses larger or smaller than the standard R1 zone, to provide regulations for single family dwellings for the preservation of neighborhood character.
I FURTHER MOVE that the Council instruct the Planning Department, to modify the geographical boundaries of the Brookside neighborhood, to extend to properties on both the east and west side of Muirfield, inasmuch as it currently includes properties on the west side which was an oversight.
The R1R3-RG zone is one of a number of new R1 single-family zones that were adopted by the city earlier this year, establishing building massing and “envelope” guidelines to help new buildings and remodels fit more sensitively into the context of historic neighborhoods. The “R1” indicates a single family zone, the “R3” indicates that the bulk of a new building should be located toward the rear of the building, and the “RG” designation indicates that garages should be located at the rear of the property instead of the front of the house. Note that the new zone will only apply to areas of the affected neighborhoods that are already zoned R1 (single-family). Areas of Sycamore Square which are currently zoned R2 and R3 (for low-density multi-family housing) will not be affected.
