Harbor LA Community Plans Update
| Wilmington-Harbor City Preliminary Proposed Plan |
Interactive StoryMap |
What is a Community Plan? |
| Harbor Gateway Preliminary Proposed Plan |
New Zoning Code Video Series |
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Note: More information on the new Harbor LA Zones can be found under the Draft Plans tab.
The Harbor LA Community Plans Update
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The Harbor LA Community Plans consist of two of the City’s 35 Community Plans: Harbor Gateway and Wilmington-Harbor City. Community plans constitute the Land Use Element of the General Plan, the long-range planning document that presents the goals and policies for the future of its neighborhoods.
The Los Angeles Department of City Planning updates Community Plans periodically to ensure that the land in each community is able to accommodate future generations of people and jobs in a way that is aligned with the environmental, land use and development goals for the region.
Community Plans establish goals and policies to guide future land use and development within each Community Plan Area. Community Plans consist of a Community Plan policy document and a General Plan Land Use Map. Land use designations establish the general location and intensity of different uses of land. Each land use designation has corresponding zones which regulate the size, shape, location, and use of buildings on a given property. The Community Plan Update is an opportunity to make needed changes or updates to land use designations and zoning for a community plan area. As part of this community plan update, new zoning developed through the comprehensive update of the City’s Zoning Code will be applied.
Existing Community Plans
(click on button to view)
The Harbor Gateway Community Plan Area is situated in the southern part of Los Angeles, south of 120th Street and north of Sepulveda Boulevard. It is surrounded by the communities of Southeast Los Angeles, Wilmington-Harbor City, and the Cities of Gardena, Torrance and Carson.
The Harbor Gateway Plan Area contains approximately 3,229 acres. The Plan Area is a narrow corridor which links the City's harbor, San Pedro, Wilmington and Harbor City to the main body of the City. The Harbor Gateway Community Plan was last updated in 1995.
The Wilmington-Harbor City Community Plan Area is located between the planning communities of Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, and the Port of Los Angeles, and adjacent to the cities of Torrance, Lomita, Rancho Palos Verdes, Carson, Long Beach, and an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County.
The Wilmington-Harbor City Community Plan Area contains approximately 6,481 net acres. Most of the topography is level except for a small amount of varied, hillside terrain located in the southwest portion of the Plan Area, adjacent to Rancho Palos Verdes. The Wilmington-Harbor City Community Plan was last updated in 1999.
Environmental Review
The Draft EIR was published on September 21, 2023. The 60-day public comment period will end on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 5:00 pm. You can review the DEIR either online or at:
- City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning
- Los Angeles Central Library
- Los Angeles Public Library (Harbor City–Harbor Gateway Branch)
- Los Angeles Public Library (Wilmington Branch, Avalon Blvd)
- Los Angeles Public Library (Wilmington Branch, Opp Street)
- Rosecrans Recreation Center
Please submit your written comments via email at planning.harborlaplans@lacity.org or mail by Monday, November 20, 2023 as stated in the Notice of Availability.
Proposed Zoning in Harbor LA
The Harbor LA Community Plans Update will be utilizing new zones created through the City’s comprehensive zoning code update and implemented through the Harbor Gateway CPU and Wilmington-Harbor City CPU. To view zoning details for a specific property or address, please visit the Interactive Zoning Map. To view the draft Articles of the New Zoning Code, please view below.
Please note: The Downtown Community Plan and Boyle Heights will bring forward for adoption the New Zoning Code, including the Articles listed below. The Harbor LA Community Plans will bring forward the unique zones to implement the Wilmington-Harbor Community Plan.
- New Zoning Code Articles: Harbor LA Proposed Zones
- Article 1: Introductory Provisions
- Article 2: Form Districts
- Article 3: Frontage Districts
- Article 4: Development Standards
- Article 5: Use Districts
- Article 6: Density Districts
- Article 7: Alternative Typologies
- Article 9: Community Benefits
- Community Benefits - Proposed Local Affordable Housing
- Incentive Maps: Wilmington-Harbor City and Harbor Gateway
- Community Benefits - Proposed Local Affordable Housing
For additional Draft Zoning Articles, as well as rules, regulations, and definitions, please see the New Zoning Code page.
Proposed Zoning Maps
Harbor LA Plans - New Zoning Video Series
In an effort to make information on the Harbor LA Community Plans Update Program more accessible to a wide array of stakeholders, we have developed a five-part video series that provides an overview of the Community Plan Update Program and the Proposed Zoning Tools. Please click on the links below to view any of the videos in our five-part video series. You can sign-up for Virtual or In-Person Office Hours using this link.
Part 5 – Use and DensityDraft Plans
COMMUNITY PLAN POLICY DOCUMENTS
Preliminary Draft Plans - 2023
Preliminary Draft Plans - Spring 2022
Draft Plans (text-only) - Summer 2021
- Wilmington-Harbor City Draft Policy Document - May 2021
- Harbor Gateway Draft Policy Document - July 2021
OCTOBER 2020 - DRAFT LAND USE MAPS - CONSULT PHASE
Review the Draft Land Use Maps presented in the Harbor LA Interactive Storymap.
MAY 2019 COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS - SHARE PHASE
Review the Draft Land Use Recommendations shared at the May 2019 Community Workshops.
Process / Outreach Timeline
The Harbor LA Community Plans Update is a multi-year program which began in Summer 2018. Please refer to the Outreach Timeline below to see the major steps in the process.
Document Library
Draft Land Use Maps with Correspondence Tables - 2023
Draft Land Use Maps - 2023
Draft Land Use Maps - 2021
Draft Land Use Maps - October 2020
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
A state law requiring state and local agencies to analyze the potential impacts of their actions on the environment, disclose their findings to the public, and to mitigate impacts where feasible.
Community Plan
The Land Use Element of the General Plan consists of 35 Community Plans. Each focuses on a particular area or community in the City (e.g., Harbor Gateway Community Plan).
Density
The number of residential units permitted per acre of land.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
Type of environmental review prepared when the City determines that a project may potentially have significant environmental impacts.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The ratio of the gross floor area of a building to the area of the lot where it is located. (This video explains FAR.)
Height District
Part of the zoning that establishes the height and FAR limitations.
Infill Development
Development of vacant or underutilized land within urban communities that are nearly fully developed.
Mixed-Use Development
A project that combines compatible uses within the same structure or parcel, such as residential uses above ground floor commercial space.
Ordinance
A law or statute enacted by a city government. Zoning is established by ordinance.
Planning Commission
A permanent committee of five or more citizens who are appointed by the City to review matters related to planning and development.
Setback
A minimum distance required by zoning to be maintained between two structures or between a structure and property lines (also known as a yard).
Transit Oriented Development
Development located near transit. The City’s General Plan encourages locating new housing and businesses near transit to provide convenient alternatives to car travel (e.g., walking, bicycling, taking public transportation).
Use
The type of activity or development permitted in a specific zone.
Zoning
Zoning determines the uses permitted on a parcel and provides regulations for development, including height, bulk, and setbacks.
Email Subscription
Sign up for notifications about the Harbor LA Community Plans update by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.
Social Media
The Los Angeles City Planning Department shares news and information through its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.
City of Los Angeles
Department of Cultural Affairs
Department of Building & Safety (LADBS)
Department of Public Works (DPW)
Bureau of Engineering (DPW)
Bureau of Sanitation (DPW)
Bureau of Street Lighting (DPW)
Bureau of Street Services (DPW)
Department of Recreation & Parks
Department of Transportation (LADOT)
Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
Los Angeles World Airports
Port of Los Angeles
LA Waterfront
Other Agencies
Southern California Association of Goverments (SCAG)
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Los Angeles County Department of Region
General Plan Elements
Community Plans
re.code LA
Zoning Code (Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code)
Zoning Code Manual
Zoning Information and Map Access (ZIMAS)
Banning Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone
Clean Up Green Up
Clean Up Green Up Ordinance
South Los Angeles Sales Specific Plan
Ponte Vista at San Pedro Specific Plan
Other City Resources
City of Los Angeles Charter
Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC)
Frequently Called Numbers
Planning Staff Contact Information
Email
HarborGateway@lacity.org
Wilmington-HarborCity@lacity.org
planning.harborlaplans@lacity.org
Address
Los Angeles City Hall
200 N. Spring Street, Room 667
Los Angeles, CA 90012
