Special City Council Meeting Scheduled for Dec. 10 – SB 9 on the Agenda

The conversation on housing is one of the most passionate and intense that the community of Culver City has had in recent years. With the combination of affordability, homelessness, transportation and traffic all at crisis levels, the state of California has passed laws forcing the city to respond. 

While updating the ‘housing element’ – the collection of standards that effect zoning, building and development – was already on the road forward for the General Plan Update, the need to address the laws passed by the state has shifted the city into a higher gear.  

On December 10 , 2021, after a lengthy consent calendar, the city council will offer Action Items 1 and 2 as the city’s response on SB9, the law allowing additional dwelling units (known as ADUS, or ‘granny flats’) to be built without individual petition and approval.  The state law says “The Planning and Zoning Law provides for the creation of accessory dwelling units by local ordinance, or, if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in accordance with specified standards and conditions.

“This bill, among other things, would require a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone to be considered ministerially, without discretionary review or hearing, if the proposed housing development meets certain requirements, including, but not limited to, that the proposed housing development would not require demolition or alteration of housing that is subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts rents to levels affordable to persons and families of moderate, low, or very low income, that the proposed housing development does not allow for the demolition of more than 25% of the existing exterior structural walls, except as provided, and that the development is not located within a historic district, is not included on the State Historic Resources Inventory, or is not within a site that is legally designated or listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district.”

To read the complete text of SB9, please go to /leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/home.xhtml 

Much of the community conversation has been confusing, with some people and organizations promoting misinformation and even disinformation dressed as facts, and accusing the GPU and/or the city of requiring changes that are simply not part of the legislation. 

The items to be voted on by the council this coming Friday are vital to the future of both Culver City and the state of California, and public comment is an essential part of democracy. 

From the City of Culver City – “How to Submit a Written Public Comment Prior to a Meeting: Find the active eComment link to the right of the agenda date, then add your comment to the agenda item you choose. Watch a video tutorial on How to make an eComment. Email your comments to [email protected]. Mail your comments to the attention of the City Clerk’s Office at 9770 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232.

How to Watch the Meeting: You can watch the meeting online, on the City’s YouTube channel or on the City cable channel.

How to Attend the Meeting Remotely: All attendees must Register to Attend on Webex, after which you will receive an email with directions and a link to join the meeting, once it has begun. Watch a video tutorial on how to register on Webex.

For those who wish to speak during the meeting: For those registering in advance to attend the meeting, you must identify the agenda item(s) on which you wish to speak by indicating the section of the agenda followed by the number (for example A-1, PH-2, C-3). At the start of each agenda item, staff will read aloud the names of those who have registered in advance and requested to speak on an agenda item. For those who did not register for the meeting, but are in attendance, you may send a request to speak via the Q&A function by stating your name and the agenda item number. Requests to speak that are received after the start of the public comment period for that agenda item will not be considered. If an internet connection is not available, or you think you may have other issues joining the meeting, please call 310.253.5851 in advance for assistance.”

To find out more, go to CulverCity.org

Judith Martin-Straw

The Actors' Gang

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