Villaraigosa Signs Ordinance to Help Small Businesses

Mayor Villaraigosa approved changes to Los Angeles' developmental approval process Monday in hopes of helping small businesses, restaurants, and other retail shops in the area.

The city's planning code, which has not been revised since 1946, is undergoing more major revisions, but this ordinance is just the first step towards more efficient and successful business.

The changes Villaraigosa signed into effect Monday are made to streamline the multiple approvals process that business owners are required to complete in Los Angeles.

The ordinance will alter the process by streamlining the procedure for developers to obtain entitlements and permits for requirements like zoning and alcohol, extending the amount of time developers have to act on an entitlement, and reducing the number of times city staff will review a project.

Villaraigosa wants to clarify who developers and business owners should be appealing to when permits are denied, as well.

Deputy City Planning Director Alan Bell said the changes will get rid of "arcane and archaic" language in the city's planning code, making the process simpler for businesses, homeowners and neighborhood activists.

The new ordinance, whose changes are four years in the making, will go into effect in 30 days.
 
During the signing ceremony, Villaraigosa said he hopes that these revisions to the permit process will bring "stability, predictability, and transparency to land use."

These revisions could save a lot of money for business owners and developers, all while helping their projects progress more quickly.

Villaraigosa is confident that this is the right thing to help Los Angeles in these tough economic times.

"Time is money, which is why we know that cutting red tape is absolutely essential to giving the development community confidence that it's smart to reinvest in the city," he said.

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