Despite 40 percent fewer employees, the department recently announced a reform plan to expedite the development approval process by bringing the city's Planning Department and the Department of Building and Safety under one roof.
The article features an exclusive interview with Planning Director Michael LoGrande, who details the development reform plan, a replacement for the '12 to 2' plan that made so many soundbites for so many years in L.A.:
"We had over 100 people from within our own department participate in developing the strategic plan. It's more than just a shelf document that's going to collect dust. It's a strategic guide to how city agencies can move forward. It looks at the process of how we work on projects. And, it's not only about the projects, it's also about how we get our community plans completed and what needs to be changed in terms of our zoning code for us to continue to be a world-class city. The difference in this effort from what we've seen in the past is that this effort is more of a strategic plan than an audit. This is something that will take on a life of its own and be implemented."
Thanks to James Brasuell
FULL STORY: L.A. Planning Director LoGrande Navigating the City’s Challenges
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research