Wednesday, July 19, 2023

L.A. County Supervisors Approve New Design Standards for Residential and Mixed-Use Construction Projects in Unincorporated Communities

Unincorporated County Area courtesy of LA County Department of Public Works

During Tuesday’s Public Hearing meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a new ordinance that will implement design standards for residential and mixed-use construction projects across all 42 of the County’s unincorporated communities.

The affected areas include Altadena and portions of East Pasadena that are unincorporated, such as Chapman Woods.

The design standards, presented by Los Angeles County’s Department of Regional Planning, provide an objective menu of options for developers’ use that support compatibility with the various architectural styles that are present throughout the County.

“I appreciate the work that has gone into crafting this ordinance,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“The state is continually eroding local government’s control and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction of ‘by-right’ housing projects. These projects will move forward whether or not they have local community support due to changes in state laws and cannot be opposed by the County. These new design standards will at least provide some guidance up front so that construction projects don’t completely go rogue.”

The standards are organized into seven categories, including building facade details, vehicle parking facilities, landscaping and fencing, among others.