1st + Main | The City Planning Department Blog

By: Timmy Luong, GIS Supervisor | Los Angeles City Planning What is GIS? GIS = Geographic Information System. What does that mean in layman’s terms?  GIS is about gathering, managing, and analyzing data — integrating geographic information within layers of data into tables, graphs, and maps to make data more visually presentable. GIS reveals patterns, relationships, and situations, helping users make informed decisions.  Over the years, technology has changed the way we look at the world. Today, we are using spatial analysis to evaluate projections, assumptions, and estimates. Rather than numbers listed on a spreadsheet, we can leverage GIS technology to see what others can’t.  Hundreds of thousands of organizations in virtually every profession are leveraging GIS to create maps that communicate, share, and address complex problems across the globe. The Role of GIS Technology in Urban Planning? Cities are constantly evolving, which is why GIS has been...

Drumroll please…. It’s been a wonderful year #Planning4LA! Here are some of the top moments from the year. Which moment was your favorite? Comment below and let us know! 10. Office of Historic Resources Presents 2018 Historic Neighborhoods Conference The Department's Office of Historic Resources, in partnership with the Los Angeles Conservancy, hosted its bi-annual LA Historic Neighborhoods Conference on Saturday, October 13, 2018. This year's theme was  The Intersection of Housing and Preservation. The day-long forum was open to anyone interested in neighborhood conservation and included presentations by field experts in preservation, and featured interactive workshops and open conversations with community stakeholders. 9. External Affairs Launches Monthly E-Newsletter and Community Corner Publications The External Affairs Units is committed to providing the community with up-to-date news and information about planning. That is why the External...

Connecting to our communities is what planning is all about. Whether it is updating a Community Plan, or speaking at a neighborhood event, we speak to Angelenos about issues that affect their everyday lives. Our neighborhood council system in the City of Los Angeles offers us, in particular, a forum by which we get to speak to local stakeholders on a regular basis.  This is why I was excited to participate in this year’s Congress of Neighborhoods, which brought together leaders from various neighborhood councils throughout the City. It provided an opportunity for planners, like myself to connect, educate and listen to members of our community. And, this year’s event was truly a success – evident by the fact that it had the largest turnout to date!  Attendees from across the City gathered to meet and speak with civic leaders and Department staff in an informal yet interactive setting. Our Department – City Planning – was selected to host two informational sessions...

*CUE* Beyoncé’s ‘Run the World – Girls’ Imagine walking into your office on a Monday. You look to your left, you look to your right, and all of your colleagues are men.  No, this isn’t an episode of The Twilight Zone, however for many women working in the field of urban and regional planning this is an everyday reality. So, how can we imagine an innovative and immersive city if diverse voices aren’t heard – or asked to even take a seat at the table? That’s where the City of Los Angeles steps in. Here in LA, the City Planning Department has made concerted efforts to hire and train employees to create a more accessible and equitable city. From the Deputy Director of Planning to our Graphics team and everyone in between, women have played a vital role in shaping our City. Now I’m sure you’re asking yourself, well, how many women are actually working at City Planning.   Check the stats: 58% of our Employees are women. 57% of Planners are women. 5...

Let’s build a city, and we’re not talking about the SIMCITY game here people! Welcome to You-ville! A new city that’s going to be completely created and maintained by YOU. Although this is “You-ville,” it’s hard to imagine a city with a population of just one, so you’ll have to plan for at least a modest population. Ready to start? Let’s get to it! First, some things to consider…. Where do people live? Where do people work and how far is that from where they live? Where do people purchase the goods and services they need? Do you have any schools, if so, how many and what types?  What do your streets look like? Can you play in a local park? Can you park at the park? Are people walking, driving, using public transportation or speeding overhead on autonomous flying drones? What do you HAVE to have in your city to make it work?  We know, that’s a lot to think about (and not even everything to think about), so let’s break this down how a cit...

By Jane Choi and Michelle Levy On Friday, May 11 and Fri day, May 18, City Planning Staff from the Valley, Central and West-South Project Planning Geo Teams hosted the Citywide Design Review Board Member Trainings. Design Review Boards are comprised of citizen volunteers generally appointed by the City Council offices. These all day events were attended by over 50 of the 90 Design Review Board Members that serve on one of 13 Design Review Boards representing communities from the North Valley to South Los Angeles. The day began with a discussion led by Lisa Webber, Deputy Director, and Shana Bonstin, Principal City Planner, with the board chairs and vice chairs about the unique roles that they play in creating a welcoming and fair experience for all involved in the design review process. Topics included ideas and guidelines for leading effective meetings and working with the DRB Project Planner as a resource in managing the multiple facets of a DRB meeting. ...