Housing, Equity and Community Series

PLANNING FOR THE HOUSING GREATER LA NEEDS

Regional housing planning has been a mainstay since the passage of the California Housing Element law in 1967. This law requires that each city and county adequately plan for future housing needs by identifying what type of housing is needed, where housing can be constructed, and how many units can be accommodated. But in recent years, a series of new laws have prioritized production over planning, emphasizing how many units will feasibly be constructed. Instead of concentrating on population and demographic trends, now questions of where housing can be constructed and whether enough units will be produced are driving the process. What does this shift mean for planning and the housing process in Southern California?

As the third installment in the 2018-19 Housing, Equity, and Community series, this event discussed the regional planning process for housing in California, with a focus on the LA region, including the goals, history, and recent changes to this foundational housing paradigm.

Questions to be explored include:

• How has the housing element in California planning evolved?
• What is the relationship between the housing element and “fair share” housing?
• How have the recent changes to the RHNA allocation and planning process impacted equity and environmental concerns?
• How are local jurisdictions responding to state planning mandates?
• What does inclusion, community-building, and public participation look like in today’s planning process?