The role of planning in communities. Creating healthy and livable communities means planning for the future. Because many urban planning decisions impact all residents in a community (as well as future generations), it must be a public and participatory process that builds consensus among all residents around a course of action.
Successful urban planning involves understanding the needs of all residents (and future residents) in a community, and finding ways to meet those needs while maintaining and creating quality environments for people to live and work and protecting the natural resources our society depends on. Communities that can reach consensus around a vision for the future are better positioned to support the preservation and creation of healthy and desirable neighborhoods.
How does planning actually impact development? While the City of Los Angeles is responsible for planning and zoning within its boundaries, land use planning involves regulating the use and development of private property which is protected by our state and federal laws. As such, many planning and zoning decisions must be balanced between the rights of property owners and the overall public good.
In making decisions on zoning and on approving or denying individual projects, the City must operate within the legal framework and ensure that it is not depriving a property owner from the economic benefit of developing their land. Although the complexities of this legal framework are often raised in public hearings on proposed developments, this website provides only a general introduction to land use planning in Los Angeles.
