City Council Postpones Vote on Streamlining Permit Process

Los Angeles City Council members are taking a close look at the larger aspects of Mayor Richard Riordan’s initiative to streamline the City Hall process for builders, postponing a vote on the latest group of proposals for at least three weeks.

“It’s just another way of precluding the participation of the community,” said Councilman Nate Holden of a proposal that would, under certain circumstances, allow developers with conditional-use permits up to six years to start building. Currently, holders of conditional-use permits have two years to begin using them, although they can apply for an automatic one-year extension.

In six years, “the conditions could change” that might call for changes in the permit, Holden said. “And we want the opportunity to do that.”