Update #3: Letter Template
It would be helpful for as many of us as possible to contact or city council to find out what the plan is regarding the "Housing Element" document. As you recall, until the Housing Element document is submitted to and approved by the state, developers can put large developments on single-family residence zoned lots and the courts will back them up. According to the city website, ours is awaiting revision. Even if it later gets approved, my understanding is anything that the developer submits prior to that will go through under the law.
Several of you asked for a template to use to send emails or letters, so I've included one below. I've also included the email addresses for each of the City Council members. The more of us who write, the more attention we will get.
TEMPLATE
(Please modify as you see fit, fill in the bracketed areas, correct my grammar, etc - even small modifications make it appear less "canned")
Dear Councilmember [CITY COUNCILMEMBER LAST NAME],
I am a resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, residing at [YOUR ADDRESS]. I am part of a group of concerned RPV residents that is following the development of the Housing Element Plan for 2021-2029, which, according to the city’s website is still pending approval by the city council and acceptance by the state. In a Planning Commission meeting on April 11, 2023, City staff stated that the Housing Element would be completed and submitted by July of 2023, and they felt that that the Element was “100% likely” to be accepted by the state at that point. It’s our understanding that as long as the Element remains unapproved by the state, developers can propose and get approval for development plans through the “builders remedy“ statute.
This has become an urgent issue as one such developer has acquired a 5 acre vacant lot that sits in the canyon between Silver Spur and Birchfield streets in Rancho Palos Verdes [MAY WANT TO MENTION HERE IF YOU LIVE CLOSE BY]. This developer was recently the subject of an article in the Sunday Los Angeles Times (August 6th - front page) as someone who has employed the tactic of getting approval for large developments on single family residence zoned properties using the “builders remedy” statute.
I am concerned that this developer could do the same here, putting in a development that would be completely out of character for the neighborhood, and we would have absolutely no recourse under the law.
Was he Housing Element submitted by the state in July? If not, when will it be submitted?
Thank you for your time.
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER IF DESIRED]
City Council Emails:
Mayor: barbara.ferraro@rpvca.gov
Mayor Pro Tem: john.cruikshank@rpvca.gov
Member: paul.seo@rpvca.gov
Member: eric.alegria@rpvca.gov
Member: david.bradley@rpvca.gov
