Los Angeles, CA Zoning Board of Adjustment
Sundays tracks every public Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting in Los Angeles, CA and summarizes what was decided — variances, site-plan and subdivision applications, and Board of Adjustment hearings. Land-use items are kept off the weekly Sundays email (they're a specialist read), but every one is archived here and verified against the official meeting record. 23 items on file; most recent August 29, 2026.
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Reinstate 2021 council file as baseline for sign ordinance modernization process
Councilmember Blumenfield explained Item 35 as a technical action to reinstate an older council file (since 2021) as a baseline to restart work on a modern sign ordinance, including digital signs and revenue opportunities, while prioritizing enforcement. The item passed unanimously.
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Item 35: restart/continue city sign ordinance file for modernized billboard policy and revenue (Blumenfield comments) and approval
Councilmember Blumenfield explained item 35 as reactivating an older Council file to modernize the City’s sign/billboard ordinance without a predetermined outcome, emphasizing enforcement against illegal signage and potential revenue from updated digital sign technology. The Council approved item 35 with a vote recorded as 15 in favor.
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Appeal and Section 245 motion regarding Walker’s Cafe project at 700 West Paseo del Mar, San Pedro
The committee heard a City Planning presentation, appellant and applicant statements, extensive public comment, and Council District 15 input on a project to rehabilitate historic Walker’s Cafe and build a residence with an attached ADU. The committee denied the appeal and adopted additional conditions; the related Section 245 motion was received and filed as mooted.
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Private donations acceptance policy and signage; direction to develop site advertising pilot and draft ordinance changes
The committee heard a Recreation and Parks report on policy changes to facilitate acceptance of private donations and related signage. After discussion and legal clarification about sign ordinance applicability, the committee approved instructions to develop a site advertising sign pilot framework, analyze impacts, propose revenue dedication mechanisms, and request a draft ordinance to amend sign regulations for specified RAP amenities.
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CEQA Appeals — Conditional Use and Design Compliance for Milken Community School private high school at Jewish university campus (Casiano Road; CD5)
Staff presented two CEQA appeals challenging approvals for a conditional use and design compliance to operate a private high school (40 classrooms, up to 900 students) at an existing campus east of the 405. After appellant requests for added conditions and extensive public comment, the committee denied the appeals and added conditions including a two-year plan approval review and a corrected traffic stacking location reference.
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CEQA Appeal — 14140 Vista Moraga (Beverly Crest) Subdivision of ~3.98 acres into two lots
Staff presented a CEQA appeal for a subdivision at 14140 Vista Moraga creating two residential lots from approximately 3.98 acres. After appellant and applicant statements, the committee voted to deny the appeal and uphold the categorical exemption.
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Milken Community School East Campus—Appeals of conditional use permit and project permit compliance/design review (reuse of former American Jewish University campus)
The committee heard staff presentation, appellant and applicant statements, extensive public comment, and Council District 5 recommendations regarding reuse of a former university campus for a private high school (grades 9–12) with phased enrollment up to 900 students. The committee denied the appeals, sustained the approvals, and included added conditions for a two-year compliance review and queuing language for Casiano Road.
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6415–6419 West Selma Avenue—Two CEQA appeals regarding plan approval/variance modifications for existing hotel operations
The committee heard two CEQA appeals challenging a Class 1 categorical exemption for plan approval/variance-related actions tied to an existing hotel at 6415–6419 W. Selma Ave. After staff, appellants, applicant, and Council District 13 comments, the committee denied both appeals and sustained the exemption, while noting operational compliance questions would be addressed separately.
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1400 North Vista Moraga—CEQA appeal for preliminary parcel map subdivision (one lot to two)
The committee heard a CEQA appeal regarding subdivision of a 3.29-acre residential property at 1400 North Vista Moraga into two parcels. After staff and party presentations about wildlife corridor claims and biological reports, the committee denied the appeal and sustained the categorical exemptions.
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Convention Center Expansion — workforce inclusion, transitional workers, local hiring, and documentation of outreach efforts
Staff discussed efforts to increase the share of “trabajadores en transición” and other inclusion goals on the Convention Center expansion. They reported certification efforts were increasing counts, noted the 10% target had not yet been reached (with 8% cited as the highest so far), and described expectations that upcoming RFPs could improve results and require documentation of outreach.
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Public comment supporting cannabis tax amnesty and urging lower cannabis tax rates
A cannabis business operator supported the proposed tax amnesty program but urged the City to avoid rewarding abuse and to apply amnesty evenly. The speaker argued the long-term solution is lowering cannabis taxes, stating dispensaries face a 10% tax rate and are taxed far more than other industries, and suggested a tiered structure where large corporations pay higher rates.
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Action on Item 12: Deny appeals and sustain conditional use approval with modifications; adopt environmental findings as stated
For Item 12, the District 14 office requested denial of the appeals and maintaining the approval with modifications. The committee proceeded with the combined action on Items 11–13, sustaining the conditional use approval for the site and adopting the environmental evaluation as stated in the readback.
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Appeal withdrawn: Wilmington/Harbor City density bonus and conditional use approvals (1268–1290 W Pacific Coast Hwy; 2590 S Bmpton Ave)
Item 6 was a public hearing on an appeal regarding a mixed-use project in Council District 15 (described as Harbor City/Wilmington). The appellant withdrew the appeal by letter, and with no public comment, the committee denied the appeal and sustained the City Planning Commission’s approvals and CEQA determinations.
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Item 9 — CEQA Appeal: Conditional Use for Alcohol Sales at Comedy Dinner Club (6253 Hollywood Blvd.)
Planning staff presented a CEQA appeal regarding a conditional use for full alcohol sales at a comedy dinner club on Hollywood Boulevard. The appellant argued categorical exemptions were improper due to expanded seating and operational impacts. The applicant and staff defended the exemptions. The committee denied the appeal.
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Interim control ordinance direction related to conditional use parking and state housing laws (AB 2011 / AB 2243 referenced)
The committee considered a motion responding to state laws (AB 2011 and AB 2243 referenced) that could make certain projects ministerial where public parking is allowed by conditional use. The committee directed Planning and other departments to prepare code amendments and an interim control ordinance focused on very high fire hazard areas, with one member voting no due to limited analysis.
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Joint Report on Low Enrollment in Permanent LA Al Fresco Program; Fee Reductions and JEDI Zone Incentives; Streamlining Recommendations
Departments presented a joint report on low enrollment in the permanent LA Al Fresco program and described permitting processes, fees, outreach, and barriers (especially accessibility/site plan requirements). The committee approved recommendations including continued outreach, use of JEDI fee reduction incentives, a $200,000 fund transfer allocation, and a report back on consolidating program functions across departments; the item passed unanimously with one member absent.
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Applicant and appellant statements on appeal: Sepulveda Boulevard 77-unit project and alleged telecom interference/CEQA rights
The appellant argued the project would interfere with a telecom facility serving T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T and asserted a right to CEQA review and that the project did not qualify for exemptions. The applicant argued state density bonus and housing accountability laws limited denial grounds and that evidence showed alternative telecom coverage and CEQA exemption eligibility.
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Request for Planning Department report/designation process for King Taco (Cypress Park) as a cultural/historic site
Planning staff presented the recommendation to designate the King Taco restaurant in Cypress Park as a cultural/historic monument, citing its 1948 building, relocation in 1960, and significance as the first permanent King Taco location and an early taco truck originator. The committee approved unanimously.
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Public comment (general): Cannabis industry tax reduction request
A speaker urged the City to lower cannabis taxes in conjunction with a tax amnesty program, arguing current rates keep legal businesses uncompetitive against the illicit market. The speaker requested a rate as low as 0.1, stating even a 50% cut would still be far higher than other businesses.
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Central 4 Project: appeal regarding conditional use permit for alcohol (item 13)
The committee considered item 13, an appeal related to a conditional use permit for alcohol for the Central 4 project. After staff presentation, appellant/applicant statements, and public comment including Skid Row alcohol concentration concerns, the committee denied the appeal and approved the permit subject to modified conditions and adopted findings.
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Item 30: Technical verbal amendment regarding alcohol sales at Whole Foods (355 Drive, Unit 100)
The Council approved a technical verbal amendment to Item 30, described as modifying recommendation number two to grant a finding of necessity and convenience for alcohol sales at a Whole Foods located at 355 Drive, Unit 100, consistent with a conditional use approval. The item passed unanimously as modified.
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Appeal of approvals for 3739 Montreal Street project (four-level residence with attached ADU) in Coastal Bluff plan specific area (District 11)
The committee heard an appeal challenging plan-specific exceptions, coastal permit compliance, and a categorical CEQA exemption for a four-level residence with an attached ADU at 3739 Montreal Street. Appellants cited coastal bluff protections, slope stability, impacts to adjacent homes, and economic impacts. The applicant argued the appeal centered on private view loss and that views are not protected. Planning explained design changes were made to meet plan intent. The committee denied the appeal unanimously.
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Appeal of specific plan exception / coastal development permit / Mello Act review for 237–239 East Montreal Street (Westchester/Playa del Rey)
City Planning recommended denying an appeal of approvals for a new four-story single-family dwelling with an attached ADU on a steeply sloped site, including a specific plan exception and coastal development permit. Appellants argued the hardship was self-imposed, the project was incompatible, and CEQA categorical exemption should not apply due to unusual circumstances and slope stability concerns. The applicant argued the dispute centered on private views, not protected public views. The committee denied the appeal and sustained approvals.