The proposed city of Los Angeles rules aim at residential zones in the desirable and pricey hills between the 405 Freeway and Griffith Park, which include a scattering of R1-zoned single-family homes, but are dominated by RE15, RE20 and RE40 zoning – sprawling, multi-acre, single-family properties in “residential estate zones.”
1) Under current rules, if you expand a house, you can use up to 50% of the lot, and a second story doesn’t count toward that 50%. Under the wildlife ordinance, sports courts (such as tennis courts) and hardscape paved areas will be added to the calculation of “lot coverage.” This rule will not apply to the scattering of R-1 homes in the proposed district, but will apply to the large single-family properties — the estate zoning that dominates these hills.
2) If you build a new fence, it cannot include spikes, sharp glass or uncapped hollow posts. Such posts sometimes impale deer as they jump over, and hollow posts can trap smaller birds and animals that try to crawl into them to burrow. Repairs of existing fences would not trigger this regulation.
3) New homes or additions of more than 500 square feet proposed in designated wildlife resource ‘buffer zones’ will require additional city review, including a Biological Resources Assessment by a biologist. This would apply to development proposals adjacent to designated open space, water features including ponds or lakes, waterways including rivers or creeks, or in conservation areas.
4) New windows that measure more than 40 square feet must be UV reflective glass or similar treatments to protect birds from flying into large glass expanses that look like open air. Existing windows that are replaced with the same size of glass are not subject to this rule.
5) Native plants that follow state fire codes must make up 50% of landscaping within 30 feet of a house (dubbed Lot Zone 1 in the proposed wildlife district), and must make up 75% of landscaping starting at 31 feet from a house (dubbed Lot Zone 2).
6) Significant trees that are cut down must be replaced by two trees. A significant tree is 12 inches in diameter or larger, and is on the preferred plant list including Black Walnut, Toyon, California sycamore, coast live oak, valley oak, ash, pine and several other species.
7) Overall house heights will be limited to 45 feet, in addition to the existing height restrictions now in place for a property. This rule specifically addresses “cascading” houses that involve multiple levels up or down a hillside slope.
8) Grading will not be allowed on portions of a property that are roughly at a 45 degree angle or steeper – known as 100% grade.
Source: Office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz
Source: Orange County Register
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