Analyzing policy, land use and zoning characteristics : understanding the potential to build housing near rail in the city of Los Angeles

Abstract

Firstly, the author provides an overview and analysis of the City of Los Angeles political framework and implementation strategies to encourage the housing development near rail stations. Secondly, the author discusses the capacity for Los Angeles' rail system to support housing development. Thirdly, the author presents housing density and land use characteristics for neighborhoods located within a /4 mile radius of the City of Los Angeles' 41 rail stations. Fourthly, the author conducts a more specific land use and zoning analysis for 5 station neighborhoods varying in neighborhood and transit type. Although the city of Los Angeles has made various policy and development efforts to concentrate new development near rail investments, these polices and projects have only recently begun to incorporate housing as a component. The finding in this report demonstrates the range of residential densities within all station neighborhoods as well as highlights the zoning and land use limitations on building new medium-high density infill housing near rail. Although many of the rail station neighborhoods are still very much in transition and residential density is expected to increase especially along the Red Line station neighborhoods, the report makes various recommendations encouraging the city to take a more proactive and comprehensive approach in TOD development in order to address the barriers of the city's current Euclidean zoning code and facilitate further infill housing developments.