Overview

The City of West Hollywood is proposing a Zone Text Amendment (ZTA) and Specific Plan Amendment (SPA) to make it easier to approve certain housing projects. The goal is to streamline the Development Permit process by:

  • Raising the threshold for projects that require Planning Commission review
  • Allowing the Director of Community Development to approve a wider range of housing projects
  • Updating appeal procedures and mailed notice requirements for these projects

This proposal carries out the City Council’s directive called “Reforming Housing Approval and Permitting Processes to Encourage Housing Production.

Background

Background

On May 5, 2025, the City Council approved a motion to improve the housing permitting and approval process to help increase housing production. This initiative, called “Reforming Housing Approval and Permitting Processes to Encourage Housing Production,” directed staff to prepare a Zone Text Amendment (ZTA) to streamline reviews for:

  • Residential projects with fewer than 100 units
  • Mixed-use projects with fewer than 100 units and less than 30,000 square feet of nonresidential space

The Council’s directive included these key actions:

  • Simplify reviews: Shift approval authority for qualifying projects from the Planning Commission to the Director of Community Development.
  • Change appeals: Remove the Planning Commission as the first appeal body; appeals would go directly to the City Council.
  • Improve noticing: Explore providing public notice once an application is deemed complete.
  • Exclude hotels: Hotels will not be part of the streamlined process.
  • Set minimums for mixed-use: Recommend a minimum number of housing units in mixed-use projects.
  • Review thresholds: Consider whether streamlining should be based on unit count or parcel size.

Proposed Changes

Following this direction, the proposed ZTA and Sunset Specific Plan Amendment would:

  • Allow the Director of Community Development to approve qualifying housing and mixed-use projects under the 100-unit threshold. Larger projects would remain under Planning Commission review.
  • Define the 100-unit threshold based on the base unit count allowed by zoning, before any density bonuses.
  • Maintain discretionary review with required findings and keep an appeal path to the City Council.

Subdivision Maps

Under the proposed ZTA:

  • If a qualifying housing project requires a subdivision map, it will not automatically go to the Planning Commission just because a map is involved.
  • The definition of “advisory agency” would be updated so the Director can review subdivision maps for these projects.
  • If a public hearing is not legally required, the Director may approve the map administratively.
  • If a hearing is required, the Director would conduct it instead of the Planning Commission, ensuring streamlined processing while meeting all legal requirements.

Additional Streamlining

The streamlined review process would also apply to:

  • 100% affordable housing projects
  • SSI projects that meet at least their designated capacity, regardless of size

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